Mindset Shift Empowered a Malawian Farmer to Feed His Family and Dream Bigger.

By Trinity Kubalasa.

Communications and External Engagement Manager, World Vision Malawi.

37-year-old Watson Mbalambanda at Chatera village in the area of Traditional Authority Chakhaza in Dowa marked himself a chronic failure.

As a regular farmer, he could barely harvest more than 18 bags of maize. The father of three only envisioned earning over Mk 500,000, but he did not have the means to see it come to fruition.

“I have been a farmer since I became independent. But despite several years of faming, I have never earned Mk500, 000 to help me boost my farming ventures,” he explains. 

But with a World Vision’s Empowered World View (EWV) training under the Community Engagement and Sponsorship Plan (CESP), Mbalambanda has just had his mind-set changed.

The mind-challenging tenets of the training got the father of three knocking his scalp for possible ways to diversify his income generating activities.

Since 2023 when he had the training, Mbalambanda has consistently turned his past failure into possibilities.

“Through the training, we also learnt how to make a fertilizer concoction using locally available materials like ash, animal dung and water. So this has also helped us cut cost on purchase of chemical fertilizers as well as maximize yield,” he says.

From harvesting 18 bags from a one acre piece of land, Mbalambanda has harvested 47 fifty- kilograms bags of maize this year. 

Apart from maize cropping, he has made a backyard garden where he has been growing tomatoes since last year.

“Last year, I made a plan to make a backyard garden where I grew tomatoes. It was a marvel as I earned over Mk311, 000 from tomato sales alone. This year I increased the plot size and I look forward to earning over Mk500, 000 from tomato sales alone,” he says.

From last year’s tomato proceeds, he has been able to buy two goats which have now multiplied to four. The family also boats over 17 chickens, a venture which started after selling tomatoes.

“Tomato farming is a lucrative venture. This year I will increase production through rain-fed agriculture, and I plan to grow tomato on a one acre piece of land where I can earn more than Mk 3 million,” he brags.

27 year old Alice, Mbalambanda’s wife says the family’s turn-around has enabled them have ample food for the family the entire year.

“Before my husband and I attended this training, we used to struggle as we could not utilize our full potential as a couple. But after the training, we do most of the things together including budgeting, a thing which has helped us excel financially. Right now we are able to feed our children throughout the year without having to do piece work on people’s farms to supplement  our finances,” she says

Alex, the family’s 11 year old first born is now fully supported in school together with his siblings, seven year old Promise as well as two year old kelvin.

“My father and mother are so supportive. We have the three basic meals per day, and we cannot complain as they provide me and my siblings with school supportive for us to be in school,” says Alex, an aspiring teacher.