Malawi can feed itself, says CARE director Kuwali, as irrigation yields results
CARE Malawi Country Director Pamela Kuwali has declared that Malawi has the potential to achieve national food self-sufficiency, following the successful implementation of community-led irrigation schemes under the USAID-funded Titukulane project.
Kuwali made the remarks during the handover of the Nyenyezi Irrigation Scheme in Traditional Authority Bwananyambi, Mangochi, one of 25 irrigation sites built across Mangochi and Zomba districts. The $4 million project, from 2019 to 2025, has brought nearly 400 hectares under irrigation, benefiting more than 5,000 smallholder households.
Equipped with solar-powered pumps and designed with climate-smart practices, the schemes allow farmers to grow up to three harvests annually. Crops such as maize, beans, bananas, and tomatoes have become year-round staples, improving food security and household income in surrounding communities.
Highlighting success stories, Kuwali noted farmers like Anifa, who turned a MWK 300,000 ($176) investment into projected earnings of MWK 1.2 million ($706) from beans, and Mr. Maulidi, who purchased a motorcycle worth MWK 3.2 million ($2,000) from his harvest profits. “These are stories of dignity and transformation,” Kuwali said. “What moved me most was the pride in the eyes of the farmers, especially the women, leading change in their households.”
Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale, who officially commissioned the scheme, praised the project as a model for climate resilience and agricultural progress. “Irrigation is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity,” he said, adding that the initiative supports Malawi’s Vision 2063, which aims to commercialise agriculture and boost productivity through sustainable technologies.
Kawale also commended CARE Malawi’s engagement of local artisans in constructing the schemes, enhancing sustainability and community ownership. He emphasised the government’s collaboration with financial institutions such as NEEF and COFI to help farmers access input loans and expand production.
Beyond food production, the Titukulane project has integrated environmental conservation through catchment management activities, including deep trenching and swale construction. These interventions reduce soil erosion and improve water retention, reinforcing the long-term viability of the schemes.
As the Nyenyezi scheme, now serving 67 farmers, including 42 women, delivers its second harvest, both CARE Malawi and the government are calling for increased investment in irrigation, technology scale-up, and stronger market linkages. “We have the land, the water, and the will,” said Kuwali. “Now we need bold leadership and action, because food security is not a dream, it’s a decision.”
