What is Agroforestry?

Agroforestry is a land management system that involves combining different crops with trees, shrubs, and livestock for mutual benefit. By diversifying a limited land area, small-hold farmers can reap the huge benefits of this system.

The soil that our Malawian farmers are working with is currently in an unbalanced and unhealthy state. Overuse of pesticides, fertilizers, and constant plowing have disrupted the delicate balance of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes that are vital for healthy soil. Our solution is to develop a new agroforestry system, one that will provide training and supplies for seeds or nurseries. We hope that this will help restore the soil and enable plants to grow and flourish once again.

Our Program

We have made significant strides to increase biodiversity on our grounds. By planting crops and implementing management systems, we have been able to support this effort. Our approach involves rainwater harvesting, which allows water to be collected and percolated down into the water table. Additionally, we have initiated seed banks, designed diverse crop fields, planted living tree fences, and installed irrigation systems. All of these efforts have been focused on transforming our center into a comprehensive training facility.

The land is being deforested at a very fast pace and many of its people are barely surviving. Malawi needs a long-term strategy to turn the tide with sustainable and affordable processes. Our developing training facility, with a small forest reserve that offers ample opportunities to create small-scale success stories, can then be multiplied into the local communities and beyond.