Transforming Lives with Mwayiwathu Farming Club
Transforming Lives with Mwayiwathu Farming Club
After two years of dedication and hardwork, the 10 members of Mwayiwathu Farming Club have successfully graduated. We are so proud to celebrate their remarkable achievements and transformation. Meet Feleyi Jestala, one of the Mwayiwathu members. Aged 38, Feleyi hails from Chimbalu Village and she shares her joyful experience with Mwayiwathu.
“For the three years I have been with Mwayiwathu, I have learnt a lot of things which have transformed my life. I have learnt to work with others and to tolerate different views,” she says.
Feleyi explains that from the proceeds that she has been realising through farming, she managed to buy a bicycle, pigs and has been paying her children’s school fees without any struggles.
“I am also knowledgeable about good farming techniques. I have also learnt that there are other things that I can not have access to as an individual but as a group,” says Feleyi.
What excites Feleyi the most is the encouragement to work alongside her spouse, which greatly contributed to the success of their farming.
Elsewhere in Mphamba village, Rabson Kambwita is also happy about the transformation he has made with Mwayiwathu Farming Club. Rabson explains how through the proceeds he has seen for the past 3 years, he has managed to take care of his old parents, has bought 3 pigs and has always had enough food to feed his family for the whole year.
“I have also been able to buy additional farm inputs for farming,” says Rabson.
Looking ahead, Rabson’s ambitions grow. “My next goals are to acquire more land for farming and invest in rental properties, securing a brighter future for my family,”
What makes up the Mwayiwathu Farming Club?
Orant gives 20 acres of its land to 10 families, providing each family with 2 acres to cultivate crops for food and for commercial purposes. Each family is encouraged to grow at least an acre of maize for food security and another acre for either groundnuts or soybean, promoting diversification and business potential. The goal is to ensure food security and to cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit in agriculture. Farmers are also given a farming input loan at zero interest rates, which they pay back after harvesting and making sales. These loans are provided in the form of agricultural inputs, to make sure that farmers utilise the support exclusively for farming purposes.
After completing the program, families graduate, making way for a new cohort. This ensures continuous impact and opportunities for families.
Looking at the future, the Mwayiwathu Farming club project envisions a cooperative where graduating farmers join forces together with other farmers to become leaders in their community. As Mwayiwathu continues to thrive, we are excited to recruit a new cohort so we can empower more farmers. Be on the lookout for more updates from this project.
