MALAWI / RURAL LIVELIHOODS

Although a fertile country, Malawi is prone to drought and disease. Its farmers live under the constant threat of crop failure and food insecurity. From irrigation systems to getting produce to market, the country's agricultural system is now being overhauled. WORLD BANK

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:27
• Production Date: 11 January 2010
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: WORLD BANK
• Subject Topical: LAND; PLANTS; SOIL RESOURCES; AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS; AGRICULTURAL POLICY; RURAL SOCIOLOGY; CROP MANAGEMENT; LIVESTOCK
• Geographic Subject: MALAWI
• MAMS Id: U100111d

Description

STORY: MALAWI / RURAL LIVELIHOODS
TRT: 2.27
SOURCE: WORLD BANK
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / CHICHEWA / NATS

DATELINE: JUNE 2009, MALAWI

1. Wide shot, masked man dancing
2. Tilt down, from mountain to corn plantation
3. SOUNDBITE (Chichewa) Alistariko Samisoa, Village headman, Kanyelae village:
“We started this irrigation scheme to improve our yield. The food we were producing from rain fed fields was inadequate”
4. Close up, man adjusting sprinkler
5. Close up, water running thru channel in corn plantation
6. Wide shot, people at grain market
7. Close up, hands sorting grains
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Patrick Kabembe, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government:
“We need to tackle the problems of the inconsistent rainfall patterns and the solution was through irrigation development, but secondly it was to address the problem of imports, that is why the government came up with a subsidy program”
9. Med shot, community meeting
10. Close up, villager at meeting
11. Med shot, woman picking cotton
12. Wide shot, man collecting veggies from 2 women
13. Close up, veggies being stored
14. Wide shot, man giving farmer fertilizing machine
15. SOUNDBITE (Chichewa) Velano Kapolo, Chair Farmers Organization, Muyowe Village:
“In the future we plan to acquire machinery to process our food. We would like to expand product lines like tomato sauce and other things. We also have a problem getting goods to market so we’d like to buy a truck”
16. Wide shot, group of women dancing, singing
17. Wide shot, ox cart coming towards camera
18. Wide shot, man plowing on field with oxen
19. Close up, woman writing on book
20. Close up, men paying money to woman
21. Med shot, woman picking cotton
22. Close up, woman placing cotton in bag
23. Wide shot, man carrying cotton bag to storage
24. Wide shot, man placing cotton in dark storage room
25. SOUNDBITE (Chichewa) Stephano Makoka, Warehouse Committee Chairman, Mngomba village:
“Our future is very bright. If there are problems in the market we will not be worried because we can hold our produce longer in the safe warehouse. We can also let out warehouse space to generate funds for other projects”
26. Close up, hands channeling water for irrigation
27. Zoom out, from water channel to farmers working
28. Wide shot, mother with baby using hoe
29. Wide shot, mother and child walking through village

Storyline

The new irrigation system is a cause for celebration in Malawi's Kanyelae village. Over 80 percent of Malawi’s people are smallholder farmers. Agriculture is the main source of income for the country, making up nearly 90 percent of Malawi’s exports.

SOUNDBITE (Chichewa) Alistariko Samisoa, Headman, Kanyela Village, Salima District:
“We started this irrigation scheme to improve our yield. The food we were producing from rain-fed fields was inadequate”

The government, with help from the World Bank is investing in affordable irrigation systems and offering farmers technical advice and marketing support.

SOUNDBITE (English) Patrick Kabambe, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government:
“We need to tackle the problems of the inconsistent rainfall patterns and the solution was through irrigation development, but secondly it was to address the problem of imports; that is why the government came up with a subsidy program.”

Through local farmer based organizations like "A Farmers Fund" in Chisomo, farmers have been encouraged to work collectively and to plan in advance.
"A Farmers Fund" has been set up by the government to help expand basic food production and develop the cultivation of high value crops such as groundnuts and cotton for potential export.

In Chisomo and elsewhere, they have built village grain banks to protect harvested food. The organizations also provide members with fertilizer and improved seeds, and have developed low cost irrigation schemes for hillside crops such as these cabbages.

SOUNDBITE (Chichewa) Velano Kapolo, FBO Chairman, Velano Kapolo, Muyowe Village:
“In the future we plan to acquire machinery to process our food. We would like to expand product lines like tomato sauce and other things. We also have a problem getting goods to market so we’d like to buy a truck”

Government assistance also provides for necessary farm implements. Chipangano Women’s club in Salima has purchased two oxen and a plough to speed up field preparation, but ingeniously makes use of down time by renting out the oxen and a cart to neighboring farmers.

Areas that produce cotton for export have long been concerned about price volatility. So farmers in Mngoma village sought assistance to build a warehouse where they can store their cotton until the price is right.

SOUNDBITE (Chichewa) Stephano Makoka, Warehouse Committee Chairman, Mngomba Village:
“Our future is very bright. If there are problems in the market we will not be worried because we can hold our produce longer in the safe warehouse. We can also let out warehouse space to generate funds for other projects”

More than 200,000 farmers have so far benefited from the injection of government funds and advisory services. The farmer's cooperatives are establishing a strong base for long term development and the sustained success of agriculture in Malawi.