Malawi
CHDI is working with 1,200 farmers in Neno to increase wheat production and arrange sales to the largest wheat purchaser in Malawi at prices 50 percent higher than in previous years.
At the invitation of the government of Malawi, CHDI is active in Dowa, Neno, and Mchinji Districts, which have a combined population of nearly 900,000 people. In Malawi, CHDI is focusing on:
- Developing Agribusiness:
CHDI seeks to identify large-scale business opportunities, develop the market research and business plans to support them, and then actively invest in the businesses alongside local co-investors. CHDI maintains hands-on involvement through construction and implementation phases, lending management, technical, and marketing expertise. These large agri-based business-development projects will create employment and stimulate demand for crops that are supplied by local farmers.
- Creating the Anchor Farm Model:
In areas where CHDI is working to develop agribusiness, local farmers are supported through access to inputs and technical advice, and with firm contracts with the newly created business in order to ensure they have a dependable customer and will get a fair price for their crops. In 2008, CHDI began operating its first Anchor Farm, in Mchinji District, Malawi, linking a commercial farm to hundreds of surrounding smallholder farmers. CHDI has provided smallholder farmers access to improved soy seed, training and monitoring of advanced agronomic techniques, and access to a domestic, bulk buyer of soy.
- Community Investment:
CHDI reinvests any financial benefit from the original investment into related projects or infrastructure improvements in surrounding communities. These projects include rebuilding and renovating hospitals and healthcare facilities; constructing schools; and improving clean water and sanitation systems.
- Afforesting:
CHDI has helped smallholder farmers in Malawi plant several million fruit and forest tree seedlings that will be incorporated into community planting programs for erosion control, fruit and lumber production, and nitrogen fixation.
