Bagging Savings: Accelerating Impact With PICS Bags to Protect Harvests and Farmers' Livelihoods
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Published on
02.04.25
- Impact Area
Every harvest season in Malawi, the impact of crop losses is felt by farmers, who rely on their harvests for survival. The floors of grain warehouses tell a grim tale: mountains of maize, beans or groundnuts devoured by tiny, relentless pests. At the national level, the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) loses millions of Malawian Kwachas in food reserves. Whilst for the government food loss equals forex losses, for farmers like Charles Banda from Lilongwe, the losses hit home in a more personal way.
“I used to watch weevils destroy half of my harvest,” Charles recalls with frustration. The chemicals I bought were expensive, mostly fake and they made my family cough. It felt like we were farming for the pests, not for ourselves.”
The emotional toll on Charles was immense. The loss of harvests meant fewer meals on the table and less money for school fees and healthcare. Each season left him more hopeless. Charles’ situation is not unique. In Malawi, where 80% of the population relies on agriculture, nearly one third of harvests are lost before reaching markets or kitchens. For families already grappling with the effects of climate change, these losses only worsen the existing cycle of hunger and poverty.
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