Planting Hope: Muso Village in Malawi Unites to Restore Land and Fight Climate Change

As the world looks for better ways to tackle climate change, farmers in Muso Village, Ntcheu District are turning to agroforestry to protect their future. With help from the Global EverGreening Alliance’s Restore Africa Programme, which is restoring degraded land to improve food security, livelihoods, and climate resilience, the village is slowly changing for the better.

Before, the community struggled to come together for restoration efforts. Now, through the Restore Africa Programme, they are working together to bring life to their farmland. Janet Magombo, a farmer and member of the Muso Five Club, is one of the farmers in the village leading the restoration efforts.

"Climate change pushed me to join the club and plant trees. Together, we are learning how to fight droughts, floods, and bad harvests," says Magombo.

For Janet, poor harvests mean hunger and malnutrition for her children. But planting trees brings hope.

"With better rains, we’ll grow more maize. This project is also helping to heal our land, and my family will be healthier and happier," she says.

Muso Five Club, which has 25 members, meets twice a month to plan for tree planting, share knowledge, and encourage conservation efforts. 

The group’s chairperson, Manase Kadzungu, says everyone is welcome to join their group including men, women, and youth, as long as they share the goal of restoring the land.

"We are even planning to start a village bank to support our families," says Kadzungu.

Ipyana Bonongwe, World Vision Malawi’s  Restore Africa Project Manager says she is happy to see the community taking charge of their challenges.

"Real change happens when locals lead. Farmers are planting native trees like M’bawa, Nsangu, and Mthethe to bring life back to the soil." Says Bonongwe.

From barren lands to renewed hope, Muso Village demonstrates that change begins when communities unite for a greener future, as envisioned by the Restore Africa. Catholic Relief Service is leading implementation of the project in Malawi while  World Vision Malawi is implementing the programme in Ntcheu district.