The irrigation project described below is proceeding well. The top picture shown right is the maize being harvested. The project has been funded by loans for four 50 kg bags of fertilizer. Loans will be repaid on 30 November 2009, subject to the terms and conditions on this site.

The fertilizer was broken into 10kg bags and distributed to the club of smallholder farmers in the village who tend the irrigated maize fields. The picture below shows the fertilizer being weighed.

The maize is now being sold as fresh, green maize as a cash crop. Some of the proceeds go back to the project to pay for the fertilizer. The picture below is of the local market.

The agricultural advisor employed by the project, Jones, started the irrigation scheme with just 7 farmers last year, totally through self-help. Given its success, many more farmers want to participate. Land is loaned to the project and prepared by the farmers' club into beds with channels leading to nearby rivers. The beds are manured and maize seeds planted. When this germinates, fertilizer is applied. When it is knee high, about four weeks later, a second round of fertilizer is applied.

Once per week, water is diverted into the channels to irrigate the beds. The maize is harvested after a total of 90 days to be sold as 'green maize' (corn on the cob) as a cash crop.

The farmers then prepare the land for the owner to plant seeds for the seasonal rains for food for the entire year. The owner also benefits from the residual manure and fertilizer - it is only necessary to apply the second round of fertilizer. So more and more people in the village are prepared to lend suitable land.

You can see a short clip of the irrigation process below.

After selling the maize, the farmers pay the project for the fertilizer, with a small mark up to build a cash reserve for fertilizer - this is still less than the farmers would pay for a 10kg bag (if they had the cash up front) because the project is able to buy in bulk.

You may wish to donate the fertilizer to build the stock. In any case, farmers will pay the project when they sell the maize, so it becomes sustainable.

Payment is best made by cheque to reduce deductions. Make your pledge here and you will then receive details of how to pay and how you will be paid back.

Once the money is returned, you might like to lend it again to another Mbewa Self-Help Project initiative. The next project is a big one: the maize mill.

After adding this to the basket, you will have the opportunity to make a donation to cover transfer and exchange costs (not obligatory) - see the terms and conditions.

The Mbewa Self-Help Project has hired an agricultural advisor with the help of funds from friends in the UK.

Jones has been running the chicken project and has also introduced some of his own innovations.

Here he is explaining about the fish farms where Chambo - a large fish found in Lake Malawi - is raised.

The initial fingerlings (small fish) were purchased with funds from the UK.

A third pool is also used to fatten the fish.

This also serves as a store of water for irrigating maize fields.

This will enable the fields to produce two crops per year.

The first off-season maize can be sold as 'green maize' at a premium price to raise money for fertilizer.

Manure and maize husks are matured in a pit to apply to the fields prior to planting.