The Soils, Food and Healthy Communities (SFHC) Farmer Research and Training Centre first opened its doors in 2017 and has since become the hub of agroecology training, farmer-led research, and knowledge exchange in northern Malawi. What began as a vision for a space where farmers could learn, experiment, and collaborate has grown into a thriving center complete with demonstration plots, an orchard, herb garden, a nursery, fish pond, livestock facilities, composting areas, and training accommodations for visiting farmers and researchers.

During my time at SFHC, I’ve had the opportunity to help document this growth using LiteFarm, a farm management platform that allows us to create a detailed digital map of the center while organizing gardens, assigning tasks, and tracking management activities. 

One of the most interesting parts of this project has been comparing our new digital map with the original hand-drawn site plan created when the center was first being established. The hand-drawn map captures the ambitious vision for the Farmer Research and Training Centre, while the LiteFarm map shows how that vision has become a reality over the past eight years. Seeing the transformation from a conceptual sketch to a fully functioning agroecology training and research center is a powerful reminder of how thoughtful planning, collaboration, and sustained effort can grow into something that benefits thousands of farmers across Malawi.