Solution
Youth and women empowerment
Team Malawi to improve the household income of the group's women and youth
by reducing post-harvest losses by 20% by October 2024. This was achieved
through a multi-pronged approach focused on training, low-cost technology, and
market access.
Technological Intervention: The team had introduced two simple and effective
technologies that could be built with locally sourced materials. They facilitated the
fabrication of two solar dryers for preserving tomatoes and the construction of two
local cooling chambers, which kept vegetables fresh for up to seven days.
Fifty farmers, including 28 women and 22 youths, received training in Good
Agricultural Practices (GAPs), proper harvesting techniques, and post-harvest loss
management.
A crucial step had been connecting the farmers to a reliable buyer. The group was
linked with Homes Industries, which guaranteed a fair price and a steady market for
their produce. This shifted the farmers from a speculative ‘grow-and-sell’ model to a
more secure grow-to-sell concept.
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