Twenty-five-year-old Zione Diyere from Kandewu in Ntcheu District is among the young people taking a leading role in promoting food security and economic empowerment through sustainable farming and environmental restoration.
With support from the Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM) under the Generating Incomes for Young Agri-preneurs and Farmers for Inclusive Food Systems Transformation in Malawi (GIYA) Project, Diyere and fellow youths are involved in demonstration farming of soya beans and groundnuts before passing on the knowledge to farmers in their communities.
Diyere said she is currently working with 350 farmers under Kandewu Extension Planning Area (EPA), where she shares modern farming techniques acquired through the project.
“I am sharing advanced farming methods with farmers in my area to help improve food security because traditionally many farmers have been using poor farming practices, resulting in low yields,” she said.
She added that the project is already transforming communities as many farmers are now adopting improved and sustainable farming methods.
Apart from Kandewu EPA, the project is also being implemented in Njolomole, Nsipe and Sharpe Valley EPAs in Ntcheu District.
Farmers Union of Malawi Value Chain Development Officer Emmanuel Chigwenembe said FUM is implementing the three-year GIYA project in partnership with AGRA Malawi.
According to Chigwenembe, the project is part of AGRA’s YEFFA programme, which seeks to increase the participation of youths and young women in agricultural transformation.
“The project is acting as a catalyst for inclusive agri-food systems transformation in Malawi through a competitive agro-processing industry that promotes farmer productivity, resilience and dignified work opportunities, particularly for young people and vulnerable groups,” he said.
He added that the project aims to increase agricultural productivity, incomes and economic opportunities for 116,848 young agripreneurs and 304,767 farmers in Lilongwe and Kasungu Agricultural Development Divisions (ADDs) by 2027.
Chigwenembe said the initiative was designed to address persistent inequalities affecting Malawi’s food systems, including limited access to extension services, productive assets, markets and diversified income-generating opportunities, especially among young people and women.
According to FUM, the project uses an inclusive and youth-led gender-transformative approach to improve incomes and economic opportunities while increasing productivity in diversified agricultural value chains.
The 36-month project, running from July 2024 to June 2027, also seeks to create business and employment opportunities for youths, especially young women, while promoting climate-resilient and sustainable farming practices among farmers.
