05 Aug 2024 | Updated 12 Dec 2024
More than 4 million people are facing food shortages in Malawi largely due to the impact of Cyclone Freddy, washed away up to 179,000 hectares of crops in March of 2023. Our teams have since delivered news of tangible success in the form of harvest from Khalsa Aid’s Food Security Project. A recent May deployment reaped a bountiful harvest.
Khalsa Aid International has been endeavouring to extend our projects in Malawi, which continues to be among the most impoverished nations globally.
As of today, we work in the southern region of Malawi in Blantyre, as well as the districts of Zomba, Chikwawa, Phalombe and Nsanje, providing a range of different projects and aid. From providing emergency relief during Cyclone Idai in March 2019 to launching our expansive Water4Africa initiative, our projects cover a wide spectrum, aiming to deliver sustainable solutions to deprived communities in villages across Africa.
In response to the savagery of Cyclone Freddy in March 2023, a more sustainable approach was taken moving forward in Khalsa Aid’s endeavours from November onwards. The Malawi Food Security Enhancement Project is a vital initiative that supplements short-term solutions with more sustainable solutions by providing essential agricultural resources to address Malawi’s worsening food insecurity.
In November 2023, Khalsa Aid distributed seeds and fertiliser for up to 2,000 farmers from 149 villages across the Zomba, Machinga, Balaka and Chiradzulu districts. Each of beneficiary received a 5 kilogram bag of maize seeds, 25 kilograms of fertiliser, and 25 kilograms of urea (a crucial nitrogen ingredient for plant growth).
In September 2023, 50 fruit trees were planted beside a new 10,000L water system during a visit to Chikupila school. These trees continue to grow and have been cared for by the students at the school.
In December 2023, 10 fruit trees were planted after the construction of a borehole (a shaft that extracts water from below ground). In Brumen, The Gambia, in April 2024, 25 fruit trees were planted.
Since the beginning of the project, we have witnessed great success in our first-hand support of Malawi. which continue to be aided by Khalsa Aid’s volunteers during harvest.
At Khalsa Aid, our work is never ‘finished’, nor do these issues ever cease for anything. A steady nurturing of projects is of tremendous importance to Khalsa Aid, and so we remain connected with Malawi and sustain our efforts for results.