Blooming Amidst the Storm: Maselina John's Journey of Hope and Transformation in Malawi - Water and Energy for Food Grand Challenge

Malawi, positioned within the Southwest Indian Ocean cyclone belt, has been grappling with the relentless impacts of climate change over the past four years. Devastating cyclones, forceful winds, and torrential rainfall have left scars on the land. In 2021, Cyclone Eloise wreaked havoc in the southern region, displacing 11,000 people and decimating 40,000 hectares of crops. The storm exacerbated the already pressing issues of poverty and agricultural challenges faced by the nation.

Among those affected by this unpredictable force of nature was Maselina John and her household, residents of Njanjama village in Mwanza district, near the Mozambican border. Their home was swept away by mudslides, and their 1.5-acre farm – once bursting with promise – was destroyed by the raging floods. Forced to seek refuge in makeshift tents, Maselina and her family relied on the meager relief packages provided by the Malawian government. Her husband, toiling in menial work, could barely scrape together enough to support their three children’s education and rebuild their shattered lives.

A journey toward transformation

It was amidst this hardship that Maselina’s journey toward transformation and towards modern farming began. While she attended her local Catholic church in Mwanza, she learned of a company developing a model farm, one that embraced modern farming techniques and harnessed the power of hydro-based irrigation along the Mwanza River. Intrigued, Maselina signed up to become one of the first farmers to join the GROWN Centralized Farm Incubation model, an initiative pioneered by aQysta Limited; she was allocated half an acre of land to manage. She was happy that she would be learning modern agronomic practices with all inputs provided while tending the farm. Furthermore, a lifeline was extended to her family through monthly advances that would sustain them during their time of need. Thirty-three farmers from the locality were fortunate enough to participate in this transformative model farm.

In their first season, Maselina and her fellow farmers embarked on the cultivation of ginger, a crop previously unfamiliar to them. With guidance from a knowledgeable agronomist, they swiftly adapted to the intricacies of ginger cultivation, mastering essential agronomic practices and effective irrigation techniques. Maselina’s dedication was rewarded with monthly prepayments totaling MWK 26,000, an amount calculated based on aQysta’s projected market price for harvested ginger. This consistent income stream sustained her family throughout the six months of the crop’s growth cycle. Subsequent cropping cycles witnessed the model farm diversifying its produce, cultivating potatoes, watermelon, and groundnuts.

A testimony to the power of empowerment

Through the regular monthly payments, Maselina not only managed to rebuild their brick house but also provided her children with access to education and supported household expenditures. Embracing the model farm’s practices, she adopted improved farming techniques such as ridging and precise fertilizer application, thereby enhancing the productivity of her own land. Moreover, the model farm played a vital role in raising awareness about the potential of ginger and groundnuts – resilient, high-earning crops that can serve as alternatives to maize in the region.

Maselina’s journey stands as a testament to the power of empowerment and knowledge sharing in combating the challenges faced by Malawian farmers. Through initiatives like the GROWN Centralized Farm Incubation model, individuals like Maselina are not only finding sustainable sources of income but also gaining the tools and techniques needed to navigate the changing landscape of agriculture. By diversifying crops and embracing improved practices, these farmers are building resilience and fostering economic growth in their communities.