Beans driving change: Malawi smallholder farmers turning yields into wealth
Malawian smallholder farmers are turning beans into income and nutrition. Through improved seeds, cooperatives, and market access, farmers boost yields, earn profits, and build resilience, transforming livelihoods and strengthening local seed systems.
Beans driving change: Malawi smallholder farmers turning yields into wealth
Malawian smallholder farmers are turning beans into income and nutrition. Through improved seeds, cooperatives, and market access, farmers boost yields, earn profits, and build resilience, transforming livelihoods and strengthening local seed systems.
In Malawi, bean production among smallholder farmers is often marked by low yields due to limited access to high-quality, climate-resilient seed and minimal private-sector involvement. Yet in the quiet, mountainous community of Mphompha in Rumphi District 450 kilometers north of the capital Lilongwe, smallholder farmers are rewriting this story. By organizing into cooperatives, adopting improved seed varieties, and linking directly to emerging markets, they are boosting productivity and building resilience against climate shocks. Their journey shows how targeted investments and farmer-led innovation can transform livelihoods.