Improving Livelihoods for People with Chronic Illness in Malawi through Agriculture

Oct 28, 2022

In southern Malawi, the day-to-day reality of living with chronic illness is difficult for many. Those who suffer from chronic non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and pulmonary disease, often require costly long-term medical attention which can limit their ability to find jobs and support themselves, placing social and economic burdens on their caretakers and communities. To improve the lives and livelihoods of these individuals and their families, the Livelihood Improvement Program (LIP) was born.

Through USADF’s partnership with the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, this program will address the nutritional, food security, and income needs of people living with chronic illness and their communities in Neno District, Malawi. Over the course of three years, the initiative will provide technical demonstrations and training on food production, preparation, and preservation to 14 cooperatives surrounding health facilities. These 14 demonstration units will be part of the Package of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Interventions Plus (PEN-Plus) network of health clinics supported by Partners in Health and the NCDI Poverty Network in Neno District.

The demonstration units will sensitize participants on the importance of consuming nutritious foods and cultivating locally available crops necessary to diversify their diets, addressing root causes and helping manage chronic disease. More than 500 people living with chronic illness will receive training and support under this initiative, and 140 community members will receive training as lead farmers to provide ongoing extension services in their communities. 

During USADF President and CEO Travis Adkins’ inaugural visit to Malawi, we sat down for a Q&A with representatives from three grantee organizations benefitting from the LIP to learn about the challenges they’ve faced, and hear how their members are thriving with support from the program.

In their own words, discover how these organizations are improving the food security and nutritional well-being of their members, and what they hope to see for the future of their communities:

LIP grantees speaking to USADF staff

 

Chifide Producers and Marketing Cooperative Society Limited

Chifide is a horticulture cooperative from Matope Trading Centre in Neno District with 187 registered members, 47 of which are living with non-communicable diseases.

“The grant has helped us immensely so far. As part of this program, we have learned how to construct produce driers and use greenhouses with drip irrigation systems, allowing us to preserve nutrient-dense foods and cultivate fresh produce year-round. Everything we learn in the demonstration gardens, we will take home and replicate in our own gardens, teaching others about the importance of nutrition for good health. I believe these new techniques and practices will help us to all lead healthier lives.

This program will not only benefit those living with disease, but their families and surrounding community members as well. Our farmers are now equipped with tools that will enable them to increase their incomes and improve their livelihoods. The benefits have been two-fold for us in this way.

In the future, I see life totally changing for our community. With improved incomes, we are expecting to purchase livestock, construct houses, and access education for our children. We are so thankful for this opportunity to change for the better and to build our capacity through this training.

I believe that our organization is in a great position going forward. Thanks to our participation in this program, our community members living with non-communicable diseases are not alone.”

 

Milonga Irish Potato Producers and Marketing Cooperative Society Limited

Milonga was founded in Traditional Authority Dambe in the western side of Neno Boma in Neno District by a group of potato farmers to help members identify better markets for their produce. The cooperative has 274 registered members, 87 of which are living with non-communicable diseases. 

“The change that has taken place is remarkable. Our members have attended two trainings in nutrition and farming so far, and we have learned many new techniques and skills. We will carry this knowledge with us and use it to better our community and the lives of our neighbors and family members with illness.

We have been working on two community-based integrated farming system demonstration sites. At these sites, our farmers have been trained to use agricultural tech in the production of crops and livestock. They have also been sensitized in providing extension services to other farmers so they can implement the skills as well, creating a ripple effect in our area.

In the future, we want to see our people thrive. Through the LIP, our nutritional awareness will improve, our incomes will rise…Milonga is at a turning point. Malawi is changing, and we are proud to be a part of this change.”

 

Mlindi Agricultural Producers and Processing Cooperative Society Limited

Mlindi is located in Traditional Authority Mlauli in the southern side of Neno District and was founded with the main goal of finding better markets for farmers through collective sales and creating jobs for the community members. The cooperative has 420 registered members, 83 of which are living with non-communicable diseases. 

“At Mlindi, we have welcomed this grant. Our organization has already started to improve—we’ve been clearing the land and planting new trees and crops. We are ready for everything! The Livelihood Improvement Program has done us good through capacity building training and workshops to improve our work as a farming cooperative.

Our farmers used to sell pigeon peas to vendors at a very low price. Thanks to this training, we will no longer need to sell the peas to them. We can now process them here ourselves, look for the markets, and even export our commodity. With the financial training, we are ready to move to the next level as farmers and entrepreneurs.

The future of Mlindi is very bright. The support of our members, whether they are healthy or experiencing illness, is of the utmost importance. No one will be left to struggle in our community. When I say the future is bright, that means the future for all of us.”