• National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF), Malawi


post-image
Alinanuswe Mwatwana from Group Village Head Mwanjasi, T/A Kilupula in Karonga District has long aspired to take irrigation farming to another level in his community. That dream came true when the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) rolled out its Micro Irrigation Farm Input Loans (MIFIL) program in the area.

Through Ngerenge Scheme 1 Farmers Group, Mwatwana accessed a loan package that included 16 bags of fertilizer to boost his farming activities. He applied two bags on his watermelon field and the rest to his rice fields. โ€œWhen I heard about the Micro Irrigation Loan from our Agriculture Officer, I had already planted the watermelons but was still unsure how I would get the fertilizer for my crops. However, NEEF came through for me,โ€ he said.

From over 1000 watermelons, Mwatwana has realized over MK3,500,000 which has also helped him manage his daily farming activities.
Beyond watermelons, Mwatwana also expects to harvest more than 2,000 kilograms of shelled rice bags. He said that this harvests, in addition to the watermelon sales, will help him prepare for the next farming cycle as he plans to expand his acreage.

But Mwatwana is not alone. Ngerenge Scheme 1 Farmers Group, comprising 38 men, 23 women, and 3 youth, collectively accessed a loan worth MK35,600,000. For many members, the initiative has been very rewarding.

Loveline Mwangomali, said that in addition to growing rice, the loan allowed her to venture into tomato farming for the first time. โ€œBefore this program, I could only plant a small plot of rice during the rainy season. Now I am growing rice and tomatoes on a bigger land and I can already see the difference in my income,โ€ she explained.

As farmers from Ngerenge Scheme 1 embrace irrigation farming, many surrounding communities have been enriched with all year round food supply and jobs which are contributing to the local economic growth
Share on WhatsApp

Recent Posts

Tags