By James Chavula

Women and children in Malawi risk of dying from smoky fumes of an everyday chore – cooking.

At least nine in 10 households cook using firewood and charcoal, shows the 2018 Malawi Population and Housing Census report. Their toxic fumes claim eight lives every minute globally, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Put the smoky fireplaces marked with three stones in minute kitchens without windows, the emissions can be deadly.

As part of the events for the visit by the Norwegian Minister of International Development, Anne Beathe Tvinnereim, and International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) President, Gilbert Houngbo, to Malawi, today, they held discussions with Farmer organisations at BICC, where NAFAM was in attendance. Speaking during the interface meeting, NASFAM Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Betty Chinyamunyamu highlighted on the potential that agriculture has to transform Malawi smallholder farming systems.

In Malawi, forests are disappearing faster than they are being replenished.

The fast-growing population’s appetite for firewood, charcoal, farmlands and housing pops clear in the hills along the Mangochi-Ntaja –Liwonde Road.

Locals in the border strip murmur about the ‘chaotic 1980s’ when the hilly setting received thousands of Mozambicans fleeing civil war in their country.

By Pilirani Mazizi

The National Smallholder Farmers’ Association of Malawi (NASFAM), emerged as the best farmer organization during this year’s National Agriculture Fair (NAF) which took place at the Chichiri Trade Fair grounds, Blantyre from 12^th to 14^th November, 2021.