We’re on the road once again, on the outskirts of Nyika National Park in Malawi, where livelihoods are being uplifted and communities are thriving.
Together with the non-profit Total LandCare, in collaboration with communities and Malawi’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Peace Parks Foundation supports conservation agriculture programmes that promote sustainable livelihoods and strengthen the resilience of the communities surrounding Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve and Nyika National Park.
Peace Parks Foundation’s Chief Development Officer, Lilian Spijkerman, and a delegation from the German Development Bank (KfW), the generous donors supporting this important programme, toured the north-eastern reaches of Malawi, visiting these communities to see for themselves how these conservation agriculture programmes are progressing. In this feature, Collen Botha and Mary and Elita Nyirenda, members of a female-led certified seed production farming cooperative based in Kazuni on the outskirts of Vwaza, shared their experiences.
To kick-start production, under this programme, the female farmers were provided with a stipend of groundnuts and soybeans, and the yield has since been impressive. The GMO groundnuts are climate-adaptive and more resistant to drought, which is helping to boost yields, with over 27 000 kg of certified groundnuts now in storage, ready to go to market.
The market price of the more reliably produced, certified groundnuts is twice that of uncertified ones, and the revenue generated helps the farmers improve their lives sustainably by putting their children through school and food on the table, as well as buying livestock and even cell phones to communicate with loved ones!
This programme not only supports sustainable livelihoods but also boosts conservation. As communities become self-sufficient, they rely less on the protected Nyika National Park for resources and also appreciate the value of protecting the park’s ecosystems, which are part of a vital water catchment for the region.
Programmes that strengthen the resilience and adaptability of communities living in proximity to protected areas are made possible thanks to generous funding support from our incredible donors, such as KfW. You can help us expand the programme and support even more dedicated female farmers like Collen, Elita and Mary. Visit peaceparks.org.za/getinvolved to transform lives and livelihoods in Malawi, the Warm Heart of Africa.
