Masumbankhunda:

Malawi

INTRODUCTION
Masumbankhunda rural development programme is seeking to increase food production and eradicate hunger and poverty for more than 8,500 farming households in southern Malawi. The project is current in its fourth of five years.

LOCATION
The project is taking place at Masumbankhunda area of Lilongwe district in Southern Malawi.

ECONOMY
The economy of Malawi is predominantly agricultural, with about 90% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture represents 112% of GDP, accounts for over 80% of the labor force, and represents about 80% of all exports. The country also generates significant revenues from the production and export of tobacco.

PROJECT OBJECTIVE
To contribute towards reduction of poverty through improvement of rural household food and livelihood security among 8,500 rural farming households in T.A. Masumbankhunda (Lilongwe) by 2011.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Work is taking place in Msumbankhunda to increase and diversify crop and livestock production and productivity, availability and accessibility of certified seed varieties/planting materials and commercial produce among 8,500 targeted households and surrounding communities.

The project is also engaged in promoting rural enterprise development among these farm families, collaborating with local farmer associations to strengthen these organisations, and assist them in establishing viable market linkages for their crops and added value agro-produce.
Improving access to basic services, and activities to combat the effects of HIV/AIDS are also underway.

Fertility trenches allow farmers to produce more on their land, and also serve to conserve moisture in the soil

A farmer involved in constructing a fertility trench on her land.

Masumbankhunda
There is chronic food insecurity amongst most house holds. This is due to recurrent droughts, dry spells, lack of fertilizers and other valuable agricultural inputs.
The average landholding size is less than 1 hectare per household. This is not enough to produce food to sustain an average household of 5 people for a year.
Livestock production is minimal in the area, mainly due to pests and disease.
Small volumes of crop produce hinder the people from accessing viable markets. The quality of the produce does not meet the market demands. Most farmers resort to selling their produce to middlemen at a give away price.
Almost 50% of the population draws water from unprotected shallow wells and 60% of the households do not have pit latrines. This is a contributing factor to high incidences of waterborne diseases.