Exciting developments are underway in Mudzi District as we take key strides toward sustainable dairy farming and increasing women's participation in the dairy and beef value chains as part of the Mombe YaAmai (Mother’s Cow) project.
Demo plot
The pastures in the first demo plot have successfully germinated, marking the beginning of a reliable feed supply for the dairy herd we are preparing to receive. A demo plot is a designated area of land used to showcase various agricultural practices, technologies, or crops to farmers or the public. This milestone is a testament to the hard work and dedication of local farmers and has led to the set-up of further demo plots in the Chimukoko area.
Building the First Dairy Hub
Momentum is gaining as we work alongside Dairy Services specialists, Ministry of Agriculture stakeholders, and local farmers to establish Mudzi’s first-ever Dairy Hub. With construction progressing, work is underway to map out key infrastructure, like water troughs, shelters and cattle dips, ensuring an efficient, sustainable, and farmer-friendly operation. This initiative will empower smallholder farmers, boost dairy production, and create a thriving local market.
Gender-Inclusive Agricultural Development
A recent workshop introduced farmers to the Gender Action Learning System (GALS) tools. GALS is a framework and set of resources designed to help organizations and communities understand and address gender inequalities, power dynamics, and how these issues impact their work and the people they serve, to ensure more equitable resource allocation and decision-making.
Women play a vital role in agricultural production and food security, yet their contributions often go unrecognised. By equipping both women and men with the skills to negotiate and engage in decision-making, we are driving sustainable development. The GALS methodology will be extended to 3,000 households in Mudzi, ensuring a lasting impact on gender equality.
Baseline survey findings
We also did a baseline survey to understand establish a benchmark against which future progress can be measured. Key findings from this survey include the fact that -
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89% respondents rely on agriculture as their main source of income, demonstrating that this project is opening up new economic opportunities
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Of those that own livestock, 97% reported that they are not selling milk for income as milk yields are too low – this indicates there is potential to support people to make the most of their assets
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There is a clear need and appetite to utilise this project to transform the perceptions and behaviours that are holding women back, as highlighted through the quote below.
‘‘We do not have a voice to participate in decision-making to an extent that even if cattle in my name bear male calves the husband can claim all males belongs to him. We are happy with this project because we expect that it is going to empower us and uplift our lives as women.’’
In Malawi, a baseline survey was undertaken to establish a starting point for the project. As a reminder, the project aims to kickstart the growth and development of small scale bamboo enterprises across central Malawi, and to strengthen the emerging bamboo sector as a whole.
Key findings from the baseline were that -
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63% households are engaged in bamboo enterprise in some form, however only 28% households report having access to markets to sell their products.
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The average monthly household income is £62 and those dependent on selling bamboo products earn an average of only £39 per month. Households currently make the most money from selling charcoal and/or firewood which is unsustainable and a threat to the local environment
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Only 11% households are part of any cooperative or network to sell or market their bamboo products
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Only 1.3% of households indicated that they are aware of institutions that support bamboo enterprises
Those surveyed highlighted the numerous challenges currently impacting engagement in the bamboo sector, highlighted by the quotes below.
‘A significant challenge we encounter is the lack of specialised skills necessary to create high-quality bamboo products’ - Artisan, Dowa
‘We often find ourselves compelled to lower the prices of our bamboo products just to ensure we can generate some income to provide for our families’ basic needs, such as food’ - Artisan, Dowa
‘Bamboo markets are unreliable. In addition to this, bamboo groups are unorganised which further worsens the marketing challenge’ - Artisan, Salima
We are committed to changing this picture. Our partner Green Livelihoods have already facilitated training sessions for artisans. During the session participants learned about bamboo and its uses, and were trained on various weaving techniques. Upon completion of the training, Green Livelihoods gave participants electric hand tools, equipment, and manuals as a startup package to enhance their work.
Over the months ahead we will be continuing this work to increase the capacity of women and youth in bamboo production, as well as undertaking a host of other activities.