Year Long Farming Made Possible

Rainy season in Malawi lasts just three months out of the year. Without irrigation knowledge and technology, the other nine months of the year often constitute starvation season for subsistence farmers.

Africa Windmill Project makes it possible for rural farmers to grow food in the dry season, and that changes the quality of life for the entire family.

This is the story of how training in irrigation farming enabled Smatiyere Walazi to pay school fees for his children. 

Before joining the Kamphinga club 5 years ago, Smatiyere practiced irrigation farming but was never food secure. He was able to farm only a small area because he was entirely dependent on watering cans for irrigation, and as he grew older, lifting the cans became harder. 

After he joined the club trainings he learned how to plant crops, make basins, and mulch the crops he planted, as well as how to use a windmill or a rope and washer pump. Smatiyere began to expand the area he was cultivating, planting maize, beans, and vegetables. After years of food insecurity, he began to make a profit.

Even this year, when COVID-19 made it more difficult for buyers to get to market, he invested MK35,000 ($41.20) and cleared MK125,000 ($147.10). 

Smatiyere has used the money he has made to purchase groceries for his family, and to gradually buy goats, pigs, and a solar panel. More importantly, his profits enabled him to pay school fees for he and his wife Aleneti’s 5 children. 

“Before joining the club I used to farm only twice a year but now I farm all year long,” he explains. “I am thankful for AWP because now I am able to pay school fees for children through irrigation farming. And also through AWP I have been able to grow spiritually with the Bible that I was given.” 

Africa Windmill Project is providing vulnerable farmers like Smatiyere Walazi with knowledge of environmentally friendly irrigation farming practices, as well as rope-and-washer pumps and windmills for irrigation. Please help make this dream come true for others by donating.