LocationsHow Efrida Nyirenda is Cultivating Change in Zebediya Zighili
From Scarcity to Self-Reliance
September 4, 2025
Efrida believes women bring responsibility and foresight to farming incomes.
UNDP Malawi
In Zebediya Zighili, Traditional Authority Kampingo Sibande, under the Kaperemehe network group in Mzimba, the story of farming is no longer one of struggle and uncertainty — at least not for women like Efrida Nyirenda.
Once constrained by limited access to farming inputs and knowledge, Efrida now stands as a testament to how targeted agricultural support can transform lives, thanks to the Empowering Women and Youth in Agriculture in Malawi (EWAYA) project.
Funded by the Government of Flanders and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), EWAYA is redefining agriculture in rural Malawi by equipping women and youth with modern farming skills, improved inputs, and access to better markets.
In Mzimba’s Eswazini Extension Planning Area, where common beans and honey production are the main focus, EWAYA has introduced climate-smart practices, value addition, and leadership training — turning farming into a profitable, respected profession.
The Struggles Before EWAYA
Efrida uses compost with fertiliser — a skill she gained from the EWAYA project that makes two bags work like ten while improving soil health.
UNDP Malawi
Before the project’s arrival, Efrida and her fellow farmers faced a litany of challenges. Hybrid seeds and fertiliser were hard to come by, and soil conservation practices were largely unknown. Drought years brought devastating losses, as crops withered under erratic rains. “We did not have hybrid seeds or fertiliser, and we did not practice soil conservation,” she recalls. “Now, we use compost manure, which keeps moisture even when the rains are scarce.”
Knowledge That Multiplies Yields
Through EWAYA’s trainings, Efrida learned how to stretch limited resources further. Previously, two bags of fertiliser were all she could afford in a season. Today, she knows how to complement them with compost manure, effectively multiplying their value and improving soil health. “When you buy two bags of fertiliser now, it’s like having ten — because you know how to make and apply compost,” she says.
From 5 Kilograms to Three Buckets
Her transformation is as tangible as the sacks of beans stored in her home. With just 5 kilograms of hybrid bean seed provided by EWAYA, combined with compost manure, Efrida harvested three full buckets — even in challenging weather conditions. Two buckets will be sold when prices peak, potentially earning her up to MWK 300,000, which she plans to reinvest in fertiliser. The third bucket will be replanted to multiply her stock. “The trainings have made us financially independent,” she says, her voice carrying quiet confidence.
Women Leading the Way
Efrida envisions a community where women and youth thrive as independent agricultural entrepreneurs.
UNDP Malawi
As chairperson of her group, Efrida champions women’s leadership in agriculture. She believes women bring responsibility and foresight to farming incomes, often prioritising household needs such as school fees and nutritious meals. “Women suffer a lot when only men have access to money,” she explains. “When women are empowered, families benefit.”
A Future Rooted in Self-Reliance
Beyond her gains, Efrida sees EWAYA as a catalyst for long-term community resilience. She encourages her peers to remain committed to the project’s lessons, even after donor support ends. With savings groups, market linkages, and improved farming methods now embedded in daily practice, she envisions a community where women and youth thrive as independent agricultural entrepreneurs.
About EWAYA:
The Empowering Women and Youth in Agriculture in Malawi project is funded by the Government of Flanders and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
It aims to enhance women’s and youth’s participation in high-value agricultural value chains through skills training, access to quality inputs, market linkages, and climate-smart agriculture practices. In Eswazini, Mzimba, the focus is on common beans and honey production, empowering farmers to move from subsistence farming to sustainable agribusiness.