Training and a little capital

Generating a steady source of additional income for her family

Training and a little capital — these two things can mean the difference between living in extreme poverty or living in security for a family in rural Malawi.

This has been the case for Agness, her husband and their 2 children.

The training? Although Agness had heard that growing tomatoes commercially was difficult, she took the challenge, learning the ins and outs of raising the crop as a business. She has received regular training and support from our local partner, ensuring that she knows the best practices in planting, tending, pest management, soil conservation, harvesting, handling, storage and so on.

The capital? Agness was provided with some tomato seeds.

With the training and seed, Agness has become a successful farmer of quality tomatoes, generating a steady source of additional income for her family. She is now far more able to meet the needs of her family, like medicines and school books.

She has also become a mentor to others in her community who are on a similar journey.

“I want to expand the production on an acre plot next growing season, and also
intercrop with other vegetables, so that I have multiple sources of food and income,” Agness said.