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.
Floods in Malawi
After a long wait and frightening drought, the rains in Malawi started at last. Our community planted crops: soya beans, groundnuts, and maize. We felt hopeful for this growing season. Our irrigation club farmers expected their crops to be ready by February.
Then the floods came. Tropical Storm Ana blew from Madagascar through Mozambique and to Malawi. The Bua, Kasangadzi, and Khokholo rivers rose and spread.
“We weren’t that worried about the late rains,” says Koletta Nicholus from Buza Village. “Our irrigation club had grown enough food. We were sure to harvest enough to eat and sell. But now our hope is lost. Our maize won’t properly mature. We will be forced to sell maize at a cheaper price. We fear it might be washed away completely.”
In some fields, only a few stalks remain standing. The floods hit three of Orant’s irrigation clubs: Chigona, Madzimayera, and Mantchedza.
“On Monday, I walked to our irrigation field,” says Nyumeri Chiudzu from Madzimayera Irrigation Club. “I couldn’t believe my eyes. All the tomatoes we had grown, immersed in water. Part of our maize field, washed away.”
The floods haven’t only affected Orant’s operations area, but also much of Malawi’s southern region. The Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services has since issued a warning. They expect floods, the downing of trees and power lines, and structural damage. They encourage people to higher grounds and avoid crossing flooded rivers and streams.
As of now, Orant is waiting to assess damages. We plan to replant in February or March.
To help those in Malawi now at risk of food shortage, click here. All donations will directly support local farmers and irrigation clubs affected by devastating floods. Every bit makes a difference.
Share on:
The Orant Journal
In Malawi, there is a famous saying that goes “Chuma chili mu nthaka” meaning “there is money in farming,” or in other words, “wealth lies in farming.” This saying is true for Malawi as farming is the backbone of the economy, with 85% of the population highly dependent on it. However, as much as most Malawians are involved in agriculture, they suffer persistent food shortages. This is because many smallholder farmers depend on rainfed and low-cost subsistence farming to meet their food needs. In this week’s article, we will explore what the life of a subsistence farmer looks like in the rural part of Malawi, in Dowa district near Orant’s headquarters.
As Orant renovates our campus in Kasese, we find a need for more consistent power supply. Working with Green Impact Technologies, we will be installing solar power onto our campus. Read more about the project here!
Orant is always excited about the progress and the fruits our Irrigation clubs bear. We are happy seeing people's lives transformed through different initiatives from our Irrigation clubs. However, we understand that all this would not be possible without the commitment of individuals from the communities who work tirelessly to make sure that their communities are transformed. In this blog, we meet Christina Lemani, the chairperson for Madzimayera Irrigation Club.
Orant is always excited about the progress and the fruits our Irrigation clubs bear. We are happy seeing people's lives transformed through different initiatives from our Irrigation clubs. However, we understand that all this would not be possible without the commitment of individuals from the communities who work tirelessly to make sure that their communities are transformed. In this blog, we meet Christina Lemani, the chairperson for Madzimayera Irrigation Club.
At the end of 2022 we introduced our third group of our Financial Empowering Microloan (FEM) for Women group called Takondwa. Read our latest blog, as Magret Moffat, one of the group's beneficiaries, tells a story of how the program has already transformed her life through loans and business skills training.
As a way of cultivating a saving culture in the FEM Program, Orant requires each cohort to establish a savings group. Why is this important? Find out here.
Who grows cash crops in Malawi? What are the best cash crops for the climate and soil? Which are most profitable? We interviewed Orant’s Agriculture Extension Officer Gracious Msimuko for expert insight.
Mbeya Fertilizer may be the solution to rising fertilizer prices in Malawi. It is easy to make with local materials. Here's how.
Orant launched the Tchale Irrigation Club in April. Irrigation Clubs create food security and economic opportunity.