Farmers in Mzimba District have faced years of falling yields and higher prices for chemical fertiliser. Ten farmers in one village, including Fanny Ndhlovu, said banana and maize production declined and many smallholders could not afford commercial fertiliser.
Researchers at Mzuzu University, with the Science Granting Councils Initiative and Malawi’s National Commission for Science and Technology, developed an organic fertiliser that combines black soldier fly frass, rice husk biochar and used coffee grounds. The biochar is mixed with frass, the blend is analysed in the laboratory, left to dry and then packaged. The project produces solid and liquid fertiliser and prototypes of animal feed for starters, growers and finishers.
Lead researcher Elija Wanda says the aim is to tackle soil degradation and falling productivity with a low-cost alternative. A policy brief by Mwapata Institute says nearly 40 percent of soils in Malawi are in poor health and the country is losing at least 2.3 million metric tons of maize annually. Farmers who adopted the method report improved productivity and livelihoods at low cost.
Difficult words
- yield — Amount of crop produced by a farmyields
- fertiliser — Material added to soil to help plants grow
- frass — Waste from insects used as plant fertiliser
- biochar — Charcoal-like material added to soil to improve it
- prototype — Early model of a product for testingprototypes
- smallholder — A farmer who owns or manages a small farmsmallholders
- degradation — Process where soil quality gets worse over time
- low-cost — Not expensive; costing little money
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Would you consider using a low-cost organic fertiliser on a small garden? Why or why not?
- What challenges might farmers face when they start this fertiliser method in their village?
- How could improving soil health affect food production and local livelihoods?
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