The Malawi Government, in collaboration with Emmanuel University, has urged communities in Lilongwe to adopt organic fertilizer, citing its benefits for environmental conservation and improved productivity.

This appeal was made during an orientation meeting organized by the university for teachers, PTA members, mothers’ groups, and school management committees at Khamphata in the district under the Research, Inclusive Education Sanitation Environment and Hygiene (RIESEH) project.

The project aim to educate participants on environmentally friendly practices through the use of organic fertilizer.

Ciara Mkandawire, the university’s representative, demonstrated how to make organic fertilizers using locally available resources such as charcoal, eggshell powder, molasses, banana residues, and others, and she advised the participants to emulate this development.

“These resources are easily accessible and can help reduce costs, as inorganic fertilizers have become unaffordable for many farmers in our communities,” Mkandawire emphasized.

Limbikani Banda, the Primary Education Advisor (PEA) for Mtenthera zone, urged all stakeholders to take the initiative seriously, highlighting the benefits of organic fertilizer in preventing soil degradation and saving finances.

Elizabeth Maoni, a community member from the area, expressed her gratitude to the university for the orientation, saying she will use the skills to improve her farming initiatives.

“I have welcomed this initiative wholeheartedly. As a farmer, I often struggle to cultivate more land due to financial constraints in accessing fertilizer.

However, with this project, I will utilize the skills I have learned to cultivate more land and increase my produce,” she said.