A five-year agricultural program targeting 35,000 rural families across five Malawian districts has concluded operations after distributing seeds, livestock and equipment to thousands of smallholder farmers. The Sustainable Food Systems for Rural Agriculture Transformation and Resilience initiative worked in Rumphi, Mzimba, Kasungu, Dowa and Mchinji through partnerships between multiple aid groups funded by Norway's Royal Norwegian Embassy. Trustees of the Agricultural Promotion Program monitoring officer Lovemore Kachingwe presented final results to district officials in Dowa, where four extension planning areas received support through September 2025.
Activities in Dowa included providing 1,738 families with 3,476 goats and giving 10,895 farmers more than 217 metric tons of soybean and groundnut seeds. Organizers also distributed eight maize processing machines, 39 bicycles for local leaders and repaired two irrigation systems. The program established Thamolatha Horticultural Cooperative in Mndolera extension area while training community members through farmer field schools and savings groups. Kachingwe reported obstacles such as fuel shortages, currency devaluation, pest infestations from fall armyworms and drought conditions.
District Council Chief Administrative Officer Mathews Mkandawire asked development partners to submit regular updates about their work for better coordination. Norwegian Church Aid and Danish Church Aid managed the effort through local organizations AG CARE and TAPP.
Activities in Dowa included providing 1,738 families with 3,476 goats and giving 10,895 farmers more than 217 metric tons of soybean and groundnut seeds. Organizers also distributed eight maize processing machines, 39 bicycles for local leaders and repaired two irrigation systems. The program established Thamolatha Horticultural Cooperative in Mndolera extension area while training community members through farmer field schools and savings groups. Kachingwe reported obstacles such as fuel shortages, currency devaluation, pest infestations from fall armyworms and drought conditions.
District Council Chief Administrative Officer Mathews Mkandawire asked development partners to submit regular updates about their work for better coordination. Norwegian Church Aid and Danish Church Aid managed the effort through local organizations AG CARE and TAPP.
