You’ll know by now that our Roots of Hope programme brings food security, income and access to education to vulnerable children; we do this by investing time and teaching in their families to enable them to grow maize to feed themselves and to sell. With new skills and frequent mentoring they develop a sustainable and circular income. Within a three year cycle the families will no longer need our help as they operate their own micro-scale farming activities.
The programme brings many benefits to the families involved and we are always exploring ways this can be developed to extend its impact. Given that food poverty and unemployment is widespread in Malawi, farming is an important and appropriate tool for change.
This growing season we established our own test farm. It is on a larger scale than the 1 acre plots we encourage our families to tend: at 5 acres it allows us to properly test conditions and yield, and explore other benefits. The plan is to complete the first annual cycle, review the cost plan, and consider expansion and diversification options.
So in the middle of December 2025, having prepared the land, maize was planted. Five weeks later there is amazing progress.
The young plants are growing well and in great condition. Harvest will be sometime in April or May depending on growth and weather. We expect to yield up to 250 x 50kg bags of maize, once processed.
Maize in this form can be kept for long periods and forms the staple diet and crop for most rural families in Malawi. However there is often a lean period late in the year when reserves are low and prices are high.
We plan to sell some of the maize to cover the costs of farming, and provide the seed and fertiliser for next year. This means that within a 12-month period the programme will self-fund.
But our priority is reserves and supporting vulnerable children. Many families will enter food poverty within months of the end of the growing season, and coupled with crippling inflation have no reserves. Our surplus maize will allow emergency distribution to relieve this.
In addition, distribution of maize to the families within the Roots of Hope programme will kickstart their next growing cycle, and give us increased capacity to invite more families into the programme.
Farming our own plots allows our team to experience first-hand any issues our Roots families are experiencing, and model best practice for efficient working and maximising crops. It also forms a base for future demonstration teaching.
Future plans for the farming include expansion of size, and diversification into other crops. Alternative crops give different income streams and benefit diet. Interplanting helps with protection from soil erosion, spreads the nutrient demand, and can re-nourish the ground with compost crops.
Roots of Hope is enabling us to have greater impact among the communities of Malawi, and finding new ways to reach out most appropriately to those in need.
Thank-you for all your support, which allows us to push forward new ways of working and to find delivery tools that really get to the heart of conditions in Malawi. We couldn’t do it without you.