By Lisa Lamya

Blantyre, August 14, Mana: A 30-year-old Mwayi Nalitsiro is a mother of two who hails from Masinde 2 village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Chigaru in Blantyre. Nalistiro recalls that before the German KFW funded project which has an Integrated Homestead Farming (IHF) component, her children were malnourished.

The IHF is a type of household farming that comprises different enterprises that are dependent on each other solely for food security at household level.

Together with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM), the KFW project is transforming lives of people in the area and complementing government in the fight against malnutrition.

Nalitsiro has a backyard garden now and she is able to produce fruits and vegetables for her family.

“This project has assisted my family since our nutrition intake has improved because we are able to eat fruits and vegetables fresh from our garden,” Nalitsiro said.

Apart from the backyard garden, Nalitsiro also has livestock and with expertise from FUM, she uses manure from the livestock to apply to her garden; thereby, increasing yields.

“This project has been transformative, now I know the benefits of having livestock such as chickens from where we get meat, eggs and of course manure,” she added.

Nutritional facilitator for T/A Chigalu, Victor Kanjuchi who works for FUM, indicated that the IHF component has proved to be successful in the area.

“There was a knowledge gap on issues of nutrition before we started implementing this project, people did not know the importance of having a backyard garden and livestock farming but now the story has changed because we have equipped them with skills,” said Kanjuchi.

According to Kanjuchi, the status of nutrition for most children in the area has improved because mothers are taught how to prepare porridge that contains the six food groups.

“We have been helping lactating mothers and those with under five children to make nutritious meals, more women have healthy babies now,” he said.

Agriculture Extension Development Coordinator, Precious Kalua said that government is impressed with the impact the project has made in T/A Chigaru.

“The role of this project in eradicating malnutrition cannot be overemphasized, farmers are able to sell their produce but also reserve some food for their families and that is commendable,” Kaluwa noted.

Kaluwa, however, disclosed that government provides technical know-how and coordinate activities to ensure they are being implemented according to standard guidelines, adding that the area is prone to dry spells but the knowledge that FUM is imparting to farmers will still help in realising bumper yields.

The KFW project started in 2021, aside the IHF, the project also promotes water, sanitation and hygiene practices as well as early childhood development activities.