Phillip, a Malawi Farmer, Used Just Two Trainings to 14x His Yields

“Today, I can confirm that I am no longer a farmer who depends on seasonal rains to plant traditional grains. I diversified my farming activities by venturing into livestock production, which is ideal in this era of erratic rains. I also moved from being a subsistence farmer to an agribusiness man.”

Phillip

For many years, Phillip, a smallholder farmer in Malawi, farmed on less than one acre of land, with only the goal of providing food for his family. In recent years, though, Phillip’s farm production has declined due to climate disasters and extremely heavy rainy seasons, which pushed him to look for additional sources of income.

After seeing friends benefit from loans through their savings group, Phillip joined his local Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) in 2003. He used small loans to purchase farm inputs, but his primary goal was simply to produce enough food for his small family.

Through the GAP training, Phillip learned how to improve his farming practices and began using manure alongside his typical inorganic fertilizer. Mineral (inorganic) fertilizers provide concentrated nutrients that are readily available to crops, but they are often expensive and require travel to purchase. Organic inputs such as manure, compost, and crop residues provide nutrients while also improving soil structure, water retention, and soil health. By combining organic and mineral inputs, Phillip was able to support his crops’ immediate nutrient needs while also building the long-term health of his soil. At this same time, with help from a loan from his savings group, he more than doubled the size of his farm to two acres.

And within one year of implementing these changes, Phillip’s harvest increased from eight 50-kilogram bags of maize to 114 fifty-kilogram bags of maize.

With his new additional income, Phillip was able to invest back into his farming business and to start a tailoring business. He purchased one cow, two bulls, and an ox cart, expanding his farm business to include livestock. The cattle now provide manure that he can use on his fields, and he often hires out the ox cart to generate additional income for his household.

His FBE training helped him plan how to use his increase in income to start, manage, and grow his tailoring business, including developing a business strategy, keeping records, and planning loan repayments.

Phillip’s story is ultimately one of determination. The training and financial services available through his savings group gave him new tools, but it was Phillip’s willingness to learn, adapt, and put those tools into practice that turned them into progress. He has steadily invested in his farm, looked for new ways to grow his income, and built a stronger foundation for his family’s future. Now, rather than simply maintaining what he has built, Phillip is looking ahead to what comes next.

“Ndikufuna ndionjezele malo olima ngati mbali imodzi yokulitsa bizinesi yanga ya ulimi. Ng’ombezi zizindipatsa manyowa omwe ndizikathila m’munda ndipo ndizigwilitsa ntchito ngoloyi potuta manyowa kupita kumunda.”

“I want to increase the land for farming as part of expanding my agricultural business. The cows will provide me with manure that I will put in the field and I will work this cart by taking manure to the field.”

Phillip