Page 209 - AFAP Success Stories 2020

Action Africa redeems Malawi projected

rural livelihood woes:

Towards Thriving Farms, Thriving Future

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us just how vulnerable agricultural value chains and rural
livelihoods are to external shocks and how much more needs to be done to build the sector’s
resilience. Preliminary analysis of the impact of the pandemic in Malawi has revealed disrupted
access to agricultural inputs, extension and advisory services, and output markets for many
farmers. However, thanks to the YARA Action Africa fertilizer donation initiative, smallholder
farmers in Malawi have begun to protect their livelihood and food security from the predicted
adverse impacts of the pandemic.

The initiative was officially announced at an event
presided over by the state vice-president of the
Republic of Malawi, the Rt. Honorable, Saulos Klaus
Chilima. It has since turned out to be a massive
humanitarian effort in Malawi. In his remarks, Vice
President Chilima commended YARA for rolling out the
free fertilizer distribution program to selected farmers
commenting that it would complement government’s
efforts to eradicate hunger. He also mentioned that
the Action Africa Program targeting farmers who
are economically disadvantaged was also highly
commendable and appreciated by the government.
Chilima said further, “Through these combined efforts,
it is my sincere hope that our farmers will not only be
food and nutrition secure but also be able to increase
income generation for their families.” Such was the
poverty, he explained, that even a K4 495.00 bag of
fertilizer available under the Affordable Inputs Program
(AIP) was beyond their reach, which is why these efforts
were so necessary.
The State Vice President, Rt Hon. Saulos K. Chilima handing over
fertilizer and seed to the first beneficiaries at the launching event. 207