When most Malawians think of farming, they envision hardworking individuals cultivating the land under the sun, often using traditional tools like hoes, and facing challenges like unpredictable weather and low incomes.
However, the concept of farming is evolving, and technology is playing a transformative role.
Imagine being able to manage your entire farm from the comfort of your home, simply by using your mobile phone.
This innovative approach to farming is precisely what two third-year Irrigation Engineering students from the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) have developed.
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The two, Gracian Bistas and Martin Chirwa, have developed a remotely controlled project focusing on hydroponic system of growing crops using water and chemicals, without using soil.
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Through the project the two are able to control the temperature, water flow, chemicals as well as other crucial elements of farming in a remote greenhouse using the mobile phone.
“As the population increases, the project will help Malawi to grow more crop in a controlled environment within a short time and we will be able to supply this to many people,” Chirwa says.
The innovation scooped top prize of K500, 000 during the Luanar Innovations and Talent Day.
Furthermore, imagine if you were to have vital agricultural advice readily available in a simplified and satirical way such as 3D animation cartoons.
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Imagine a cartoon while entertaining you, equipping you with the right information about farming.
This is exactly what Blessings Nachanje, a former student of Agriculture Extension at Luanar has created.
“My innovation is about transforming agriculture digitally by turning the same message in a cartoon way that comes together with the funny part. So as farmers are enjoying cartoons in the video at the same time, they are getting the extension messages,” Nachanje said.
He notes that with the influx of smartphones across the country, it was high time Malawi started putting such gadgets to good use by turning them into weapons of development and not destruction as is the case.
“The beauty about it is that even the cheap phones can accommodate a video element. So, my target is to have farming communities enjoying the cartoons while getting the important messages of new ways of farming,” Nachanje said.
And what about getting weather warning details via the phone through SMS advising you that there will be a dry spell and then advising you they type of crop to grow and not to grow.
This is a mobile application by Duncan Nyirenda, a Fourth Year Metrology and Climate Science student at the Malawi University of Science and Technology (Must).
Over reliance on archaic ways of farming such as the use of the hoe coupled with low absorption of technology has left Malawi’s agriculture sector limping and therefore unable to attract the majority of its youthful population.
A 2017 Policy Brief by the Department of Political and Administration Studies at Chancellor College of the University of Malawi says agriculture remains key to addressing the rising challenge of youth unemployment in the country.
The policy brief authored by Professor Blessings Chinsinga and Michael Chasukwa, says politicians simply look at agriculture as a means of growing maize for purposes of ensuring food security for their political survival and not as a tool of transformative development through technological advancement through value chains and youth involvement.
“The perception of the youth is that agriculture is self-invitation for poverty as such they are less eager to venture into it as their main occupation. Rebranding the agricultural sector will have to focus on issues with tremendous appeal to the youth: commercialization, technology, industrialisation and value addition,” reads the brief.
United Nations Development Programme, Resident Representative Fenella Frost believes innovation in agriculture is the key to unlocking new opportunities, increasing productivity, and ensuring food security for Malawi.
“It is through innovation that we can harness the potential of our fertile lands, adapt to climate change, and improve the livelihoods of our farmers and rural communities,” Frost said.
Luanar Council Chairperson Professor Zachary Kasomekera says university students should serve as a crucible of creativity and excellence and must be encouraged to explore their passions, challenge conventional wisdom, and pursue bold ideas that have the power to transform lives.
“As we look to the future, it is essential that, as a country, we continue to invest in agricultural education and research, equipping our students with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.
“By fostering a culture of innovation within our university, we can inspire the next generation of agricultural leaders and entrepreneurs who will drive our nation’s prosperity forward,” Kasomekera says.
National Commission for Science and Technology Director General Gift Kadzamira believes that to overcome hurdles and unlock the full potential of Malawi’s agriculture, traditional approaches alone will not suffice.
Kadzamira underscores the need to embrace innovation as a cornerstone of agricultural development and transformation.
But in a world where technology is evolving at a supersonic speed, there is a need to promote and develop whatever innovations the youth may come up within the technology space.
And that’s where Malawi needs the private sector.
Nico Technologies Chief Executive Officer Clarence Gama says innovations in the agriculture space if well harnessed could help Malawi triple its agricultural output.
“The role of the private sector is to support from a resourcing point of view. From a skillset point of view. You are these things require a lot of investment.
“And where there is a partnership like the partnership that Luanar and Nico have where we work together in supporting some of these innovations so that they can come to fruition, the private sector is able to efficiently support delivery of some of these innovations,” Gama said.
One thing for sure is that one of Malawi’s biggest assets at the moment is its youthful population hovering around 80 percent.
But the image of agriculture to many young people simply isn’t seen as attractive.
Making agriculture much easier and more rewarding could help attract more youths into the sector. But for that to happen, embracing technology is a must.
