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KULIMA: Revitalising Agricultural Clusters and Ulimii wa Mdandanda through Farmer Field Schools in Malawi

KULIMA: Revitalising Agricultural Clusters and Ulimii wa Mdandanda through Farmer Field Schools in Malawi

Sustained change process with EU support to quality agriculture services through the FFS approach

Provision of quality agriculture services, namely research and extension, is key for an inclusive and sustainable transformational growth of the sector in Malawi. For that purpose,we are implementing a capacity building programme for extension workers and lead farmers in Mzuzu, Kasungu and Mulanje. The trainees have so far demonstrated a good understanding of the FFS methodology.

EU in Malawi

CONTEXT

The Farmer Field Schools (FFS) potential to multiply benefits through the progressive increase of skilled actors' numbers in the various districts is expected to lead to an effective and inclusive transformation of the sector based on the use of good practices by critical masses. Higher productivity and sustainable improvement of the natural resources are expected to generate from the generalisation of the process and to ensure increased food and nutrition security, income generation and development of more business oriented farming by critical masses of farmers in Malawi.

OBJECTIVES

  • Promoting sustainable agricultural growth and incomes to enhance food and nutrition security in Malawi within the context of a changing climate.

RESULTS

  • Integrated soil fertility management and water harvesting and moisture conservation systems.
  • Rapid multiplication of clean planting materials in response to farmers' needs.
  • Affordable integrated management of pests and diseases and participatory variety selection.
  • Diversification of agricultural production systems and effective promotion of nutritious foods (including indigenous vegetables).

FACTS AND FIGURES

  • At least 600 FFS Master Trainers and 8 000 Community Based Facilitators will be trained
  • 13 400 community outreach groups with over 400 000 productive farming families will be supported

TESTIMONY

Banana Farmers benefitting a lot from Farmer Field Schools

We have acquired a good understanding of the challenges affecting agricultural systems as well as the most appropriate and affordable solutions. The experiential learning process is highly relevant given the damages that we have been facing these recent 2 decades with regards to progressive collapse of the local banana industry following the widespread of the banana bunchy top disease (BBTD). Through FFS, different key operations, based on technologies which are  easily accessible and affordable by a great majority us farmers, have been lively demonstrated in a very participatory exercise.  Innovative practices like hot water treatment to eliminate negative effects of banana weevils without relying on chemical pesticides are providing a significant contribution to successful establishment of our banana fields.