Balaka District Agriculture Development Office has trained 30 people with disabilities from Utale Extension Planning Area how to make Mbeya fertiliser.

Speaking after the training on Tuesday, Utale agricultural extension development officer Albert Kalambo said they wanted to empower persons with disabilities who will not access subsidised fertiliser under the Malawi Government-sponsored Affordable Inputs Programme to make their own fertiliser.

Fertiliser is critical to getting bumper yield

“We want to achieve food security in the district and one way is through empowering people to produce Mbeya fertiliser because most of its raw materials are locally available,” he said.

Kalambo said Mbeya fertiliser keeps moisture and fertility in gardens and encouraged farmers to utilise the mechanism considering that Balaka is a rain shadow district.

A farmer in the area, Franzia M’baya, said they will utilise the knowledge to improve their crop production.

He said: “I thank the Agriculture Department for the initiative because many of us could not afford fertiliser, which is expensive.

“Mbeya fertiliser has given us hope that we can still get bumper harvest this year.”

The persons with disability were drawn from Kuthekera Foundation, a community-based organisation formed by youths in 2020 to create a conducive environment for people with disabilities.

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