As the backbone of Malawi's economy, agriculture accounts for approximately 30% of the country's Gross Domestic Product. It is the primary source of livelihood for many rural Malawians, who solely rely on farming to make ends meet. However, the journey to a successful harvest is never easy for these rural farmers, who face numerous challenges that threaten their livelihoods. In this week's blog article, we delve into the current challenges facing Malawi’s rural farmers this farming season.
Agriculture & Business
Orant Charities Africa is dedicated to sustainably supporting our community through farming skill development and various microloan programs. Our programs focus on supporting women and farmers to help them build a better life for their families.
Over 80% of the population of Malawi is rural. Malawi’s economy is largely agrarian. More importantly, many of the people in our operation areas are subsistence farmers. They farm to survive and only sell what little they have left. The importance of farming and agriculture in Malawi cannot be overstated.
Currently, our Agriculture & Business Programs are separated into Business or Microloan Programs and Farming Programs.
Microloan Programs
Irrigation Clubs
Orant sponsors and manages 14 irrigation clubs in our Kasese operations area. These clubs are supplied with the skills and supplies necessary to plant and harvest multiple crops per year, helping them develop prosperity and wealth.
FEM for Women
Our FEM for Women Program supports local women entrepreneurs with microloans. These loans financially empower women in the community and at home. Many of our members improve their family’s living situation and pay for their childrens’ schooling with their profits.
Farming Programs
BOMFA
We have been supporting the Bowe Mission Farmer’s Association (BOMFA) since Orant Charities Africa was founded. BOMFA is a farmers cooperative that organizes seed and fertilizer distribution to its farmers and helps them sell and transport their crops in bulk. BOMFA supports farmer clubs and contributes to building a more stable community.
Orant Demonstration Farm Plot
Orant Charities Africa’s campus has a 33-acre farm plot which is used to demonstrate proper farming techniques and correct use of fertilizer and seeds to local farmers. This ensures that farmers have access to the latest information and farming techniques in Malawi so their yields can be as high as possible.
Stories From The Field
In today's fast-paced world, digital financial literacy is more important than ever. It is essential for saving time and resources, as most financial transactions have gone digital. This week, our Business Development program launched a digital financial literacy campaign, building on our previous "Hey Sister! Show me your mobile money" campaign. Read our latest blog article to learn more about this campaign and its impact on our communities.
These beaming smiles belong to our Tikondane Village Savings and Loan (VSL) group members, who have just harvested the fruits of their labor after a year of hard work and diligent saving. Through our VSL program, these incredible individuals have learned the value of saving, budgeting, and investing in the future of their families. Click the link below to learn more about how VSLs work and hear incredible stories from these women.
We are happy to announce the graduation of our Mwayiwathu Farming Club. This group has experienced so much transformation over the past 3 years we have worked with them and we are now in the process of selecting our second cohort. Read our blog article for inspiring stories from Mwayiwathu!
We are so happy about the strides our Business Development Program is making. In today’s post, we share the story of Judith Kachala, a Financially Empowering Microloans (FEM) for Women program cohort 3 member. Judith’s story is a testament to the power of hard work and determination. Read our latest blog to learn more about Judith’s story.
The Orant Agroecological Demonstration Farm produces strong, nutritious crops using natural farming techniques. See some photos from the farm here!
Do you remember Cellina’s experience with drought and her story of perseverance? This week we visited Cellina to learn more and catch up on how she and her family have been surviving on the 15 bags of maize she realized from her 2 acre field. Read today’s blog article to catch up on Cellina’s journey.
At Orant, we are committed to supporting local entrepreneurs, especially women. This is what spurred us to start our Financial Empowering Microloans (FEM) program in 2017. However, we came to realize that our program participants needed more comprehensive support to achieve sustainable growth. This is why we are excited to announce the evolution of our FEM program into what we now call Business Development Program!. Read our latest blog to learn more about this evolution.
In this week’s blog article, we talk to Cellina Samson, a lead farmer from Mantchondo village in Dowa District. Cellina shares her farming journey and experience for the 2023/24 farming season. Visit today’s blog article and read Cellina’s story and how she is crossing the bridge of uncertainty, one step at a time.
Every year, March is designated Women’s History Month. In this month, we honour and celebrate women’s contributions to history and contemporary society. In today's blog, we talk with women from our FEM program, and they highlight the roles they play in their families and Kasese community. Read the blog article to learn more!