Spurring market-based, private-sector agricultural solutions in Malawi

Using a private sector approach, this USDA Food for Progress project worked with 68,091 smallholder farmers in Malawi's districts of Salima and Nkhotakota to increase their production of cassava, rice, and small livestock through improved technologies, including irrigation. The project also promoted dietary diversity, hygienic practices and proper nutrition among farming families. It reinforced techniques to improve on-farm production via use of mobile SMS/text campaigns, radio broadcasts, billboards and other information and communication technology interventions.  We worked with farmers to establish 1,414 Village Savings and Loans groups with a total of 35,774 members. Collectively, groups used the power of their own community to save U.S. $1,647,960 by project close.