Nsanje, Malawi: In the parched landscapes of Malawi’s Nsanje district, a quiet revolution is taking root. Smallholder farmers, long battling the relentless onslaught of drought, are transforming their fortunes by embracing climate-resilient crops like sesame, cowpeas, and sorghum. This shift, spearheaded by a value chain project, is not only bolstering their incomes but also offering a beacon of hope in a region grappling with the harsh realities of a changing climate.
For years, farmers in Group Village Headman Nyanjidu’s area, under Traditional Authority Mbenje, have witnessed their traditional crops wither and fail. But the introduction of drought-tolerant alternatives has ushered in a new era of economic viability. “The value chain project that we have is about encouraging farmers to produce high-quality sesame for exportation and cowpeas and sorghum for local consumption and exports into the region,” explains Simon Denhere, the United Nations World Food Programme Interim Country Director. This initiative directly aligns with Malawi Vision 2063, which prioritizes agricultural transformation towards climate-smart, high-value crops.
Levason Mzanga, a 45-year-old farmer and chairman of the Value Chain Project Management Committee, is a living testament to the project’s success. “My household was one of the poorest in this village,” he admits. However, the 2023/2024 season saw him harvest a remarkable 10 bags of sesame from a single hectare, earning him a substantial MK1,072,000. This newfound wealth has enabled him to invest in livestock, secure ample food stores, and provide for his children’s education. With anticipation building for this year’s harvest, Mzanga projects a yield of 15 bags, potentially exceeding MK2 million.
Eunice Banda, 43, shares a similar story of transformation. After years of enduring drought-induced crop failures, her four-bag sesame harvest last season yielded MK500,000. This income has been wisely reinvested in livestock and her children’s future through education. The growing adoption of sesame production across Malawi, which has surged from 31% in 2019-2020 to an impressive 91% in 2023-2024, underscores the project’s growing impact.
Even the 76-year-old village chief, Nyanjidu, whose community endured 15 years of hardship due to climate change, now beams with satisfaction. “I am now a happy village chief,” he declares. “I own a beautiful house with iron sheets, and my family enjoys a healthy life with an abundance of food throughout the year.”
The scale of this agricultural shift is significant. Approximately 52,775 farmers across five districts are now cultivating cowpeas, while around 141,413 smallholders are growing sorghum in Chikwawa, Phalombe, and Nsanje. This widespread adoption is a direct result of the partnership between the Ministry of Agriculture and the WFP, which meticulously analyzed the value chain to address systemic issues. Their collaborative efforts are focused on enhancing productivity, strengthening market linkages, and sustainably increasing incomes for these vulnerable communities.
In a region where the climate has long dictated hardship, these Malawian farmers are demonstrating remarkable resilience and ingenuity. By embracing climate-smart agriculture, they are not only securing their own futures but also sowing the seeds for a more prosperous and food-secure Malawi.
