Tackling the negative effects of El Niño 2015/16 in Malawi

Objective

• Support animal health interventions and vector control and protect or restore livelihoods through restocking with small ruminants.

Beneficiaries Reached

• 429 3654 farmers

Activities implemented:

• Supported the establishment of 1 273 ha for food production under irrigation.

• Organized over 19 seed fairs in three districts, delivering 14 312 vouchers each worth USD 14 for the purchase of 27 125 kg of hybrid and open-pollinated bean and maize seeds.

• Provided voucher beneficiary households with 195 000 kg of basal and top dressing fertilizers.

• Provided technical backstopping, signed contracts with agro-dealers, organized quality assurance support and ensured payment was disbursed to seed suppliers who participated in the seed fairs.

• Supported pass-on restocking schemes in which 900 households each received five goats and livestock management training.

• Held community-based trainings in livestock diseases, animal management (especially for goats and poultry), community mobilization to facilitate vaccination campaigns and in basic livestock management practices for approximately 900 farmers.

• Supported a Newcastle disease vaccination campaign that reached nearly 600 000 poultry belonging to households with limited access to veterinary services.

• Sprayed 6 264 ha of cropland with 783 kg of Denim Fit, benefiting 5 508 farming households in 14 extension planning areas.

• Reached 429 365 farmers with training facilitated by extension planning area staff as well as awareness campaigns that were designed to improve the understanding of fall armyworm (FAW), demonstrate the safe use Denim Fit and disposal of empty pesticide containers.

• Undertook aerial pesticide spraying to control red locust outbreaks in several regions.

• Distributed pesticides and protective wear through MOAIWD to address FAW outbreaks in central and northern Malawi.

Results

• Contributed to the safeguarding of livestock-based livelihoods, including support to animal health interventions and vector control.

• Improved the availability of and access to adaptable, high yielding seeds and planting materials which contributed to increased food production quantities.

• Scaled-up cropping irrigation in areas affected by prolonged dry spells and in so doing, provided support to community-based schemes previously unable to access agricultural inputs to resume production.

• Produced 2 270 tonnes of maize and 690 tonnes of pulses and legumes.

• Supported an effective and timely response that averted 10 421 tonnes of crop losses due to FAW and red locust, enough to feed about 47 000 people for an entire year.

• Enhanced farmer skills, with surveyed beneficiary farmers able to recall key facts about FAW life-cycle, recommended pest management practices, pesticide management and how to distinguish FAW from other pests.