Soils, Food and Healthy Communities

Malumbo joined the project in 2001 at the age of 18, when his mother died shortly after she joined the project in 2000. He was attracted to the project by the fact that he needed to improve the fertility of his soil and could not afford to do it with fertilizer every year. He also made the connection with nutrition – he knew that if his soils improve, so too will the food that comes out of those soils. Producing nutritious foods is important to Malumbo, given that he has to provide for his four younger siblings, along with his 8-month old daughter. The children especially enjoy the soya that he grows.

Malumbo serves on both the FRT and the Nutrition Research Team (NRT), and works as an ANDG facilitator. Through participating in these activities, he has learned a lot about family relations, nutrition, and farming practices, and he takes pride in teaching his friends what he has learned. Although he has also faced some challenges, such as beetles eating his pigeon peas, he has expanded his fields and grows a variety of crops.

Malumbo is happy that the nutrition of his family has also improved. His family is more food secure, and his soy beans and ground nuts have been plentiful enough that he can sell them at the market, and give them to friends and family.