By Mercy Matonga:
Bertha Dyton, 33, of Kadaya Village, Traditional Authority Kapichi in Thyolo District still recalls the events of March 2023 vividly.
Although she cannot remember the exact date, she says it was around midday when heavy rains pounded the area, leaving a trail of destruction.
Among the many houses destroyed was her own.
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“I was cooking while my son was sleeping when I heard a loud noise. It was my house collapsing. Fortunately, the walls fell outwards and did not hurt my son,” Dyton recalls.
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The destruction was one of many impacts of Cyclone Freddy, which displaced families and damaged critical infrastructure including homes, schools and agricultural extension offices.
The destruction of the extension worker’s office cut off access to vital agricultural support that many farmers depend on to improve productivity.
A small-scale farmer and Form Two school dropout, Dyton says her family had never enjoyed food security.
Before this farming season, even harvesting a single bag of maize seemed impossible.
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“This year, I harvested five bags of maize, which feels like a dream. I started living with my husband two years ago and we had never harvested enough food. But this year has been different. I believe I can do even better next season,” she says.
Dyton attributes the improvement to the return of extension services and the guidance she has received from extension workers and lead farmers.
“This area had limited access to extension workers because they had nowhere to stay. Their office and houses were destroyed by the cyclone. Now that they are back, we are learning better farming practices and the results are showing,” she says.
The presence of extension workers has enabled farmers to receive timely advice on crop management, climate-smart agriculture and pest control, knowledge that is helping communities recover from the effects of the disaster.
Beyond improving agricultural production, Dyton says the support she received after losing her home also gave her hope to rebuild her life.
“The government assisted us with resources to rebuild my house. As a single parent, that support meant everything. I now have a place to stay again,” she says.
Communities like Kadaya are seeing renewed hope following the reconstruction of the extension worker’s office under the Regional Climate Resilience Programme (RCRP-2), funded by the World Bank.
The project has restored infrastructure and revived essential services that help farmers rebuild livelihoods, improve food security and recover from one of the country’s worst climate disasters.
Lead farmer Eliza Kapichi works closely with local farmers and extension workers in the area.
“The absence of the office created a big gap in knowledge sharing. Farmers reached out to us but sometimes we did not have answers. The extension office and the presence of extension workers are one of our biggest wins,” Kapichi said.
Cyclones that hit the country not only destroyed homes and crops but also left many roads impassable, cutting off communities from essential services and markets.
In Chiradzulu District, the 8.1-kilometre gravel road from Magomero turn-off to Namadzi became a symbol of the devastation, with washed-away sections making travel difficult for farmers, schoolchildren and community members.
Reconstruction efforts under RCRP-2 are now restoring more than access. Rehabilitation of the road is reconnecting communities and reviving livelihoods once disrupted by the disaster.
Senior Chief Mchema of Magomero in Chiradzulu said the gravel road has improved transportation of farm produce as the area is a major producer of nandolo and tomatoes.
“To go to Nasawa Technical College some use this road. Right now, it is pigeon pea season and farmers are using this same road.
“However, during the rainy season the road used to be impassable. The construction of culverts and other maintenance has greatly improved it,” Mchema said.
Mary Mkwate from Mawuwa Village said the rehabilitated road has become a game changer as it allows travel even during the rainy season.
She and her husband bought a bicycle through farming income built up over several years.
“There were some places along this road that we could not pass when it rained. All it needed was proper water channels and good drainage. The challenges we used to face will be history,” Mkwate said.
RCRP-2 Communication Specialist Yvonne Sundu said the programme has progressed well in Malawi and looks forward to the construction of bridges along the Mangochi– Makanjira Road.
“We are building something that will be used by future generations and that is what we want to see happening,” Sundu said.
The Government of Malawi is implementing the second phase of RCRP-2, a five-year initiative supported by the World Bank through a $250 million grant from the International Development Association.
The programme aims to help participating countries better prepare for and manage the growing frequency, intensity and impact of climate shocks on communities, livelihoods, infrastructure and ecosystems.
Under the programme, Malawi has been allocated about $240 million while the African Union will receive $10 million to support regional coordination and resilience efforts.
In Malawi, the project focuses on rehabilitating critical infrastructure damaged by Cyclone Freddy to strengthen resilience to future climate-related disasters and improve the delivery of essential services.
