Author: Tiyamike Chisale

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NCA-DCA and CADECOM Monitor Project, Express Satisfaction with Farmers’ Efforts

The Norwegian Church Aid and Dan Church Aid alliance (NCA-DCA), in collaboration with the Catholic Development Commission of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, have urged farmers under the agroecology project to continue working hard towards achieving better results.
One of the advisors of Norwegian Church Aid, Siv Oystese, emphasized this during a monitoring visit to Mponela-Dowa farmers on Monday, November 17, 2025 where she expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far.
Siv Oystese
Siv Oystese
“We’ve seen more than what we expected. Farmers are doing great work with the little support they’ve received,” Oystese said.
Oystese also commended the farmers’ ability to work together, share knowledge, and adapt to new techniques.
a farmer showing landscape design of his household garden
Chinkonda, showing landscape design of his household garden
The acting secretary of CADECOM in the archdiocese, Madalitso Chilalire, echoed Oystese’s sentiments, praising the farmers for their hard work and the positive impact the project is having on their livelihoods.
“So far, so good. The farmers have expressed satisfaction with establishing food forests and taking care of them,” Chilalire said.
Madalitso Chilalire, CADECOM Secretary, Lilongwe
Chilalire also highlighted the project’s success in improving food security and income generation.
He noted that more work is needed to address challenges such as climate change and soil degradation.
He also emphasized the importance of continued support and collaboration to ensure the project’s sustainability.
Maxon Chimkonda, a benefiting farmer from Mazengera village, expressed gratitude to CADECOM for the agroecology project, saying it has transformed their farming methods.
“We’ve learned to make manure, which has improved our sandy soils, and now we have a steady supply of food,” Chimkonda said.
Chinkonda, watering his garden using a water cane
A farmer, showcasing compost manure making 
Chimkonda also appreciated the training on agroecology practices, which has enabled them to reduce their reliance on external inputs and improve soil fertility.
He noted that the project has also empowered them to share their knowledge with other farmers, creating a huge impact in the community.
He added by mentioning that the project has had a significant impact on his family’s nutrition and income, allowing him to afford basic necessities and even invest in other income-generating activities.
By Tiyamike Chisale.
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Ministry of Health Reaffirms Commitment to Reducing Maternal Deaths

Ministry of Health has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving maternal health and reducing maternal mortality deaths across the country.

Speaking on Monday, 07th April 2025, during the press briefing at Bwaila Hospital on commemoration of World Health Day, minister Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda emphasized the need for enhanced efforts to address maternal and newborns health issues, despite having limited healthcare facilities in almost every hospital in the country.

Chiponda also added that this year’s world health day aims at reducing preventable maternal deaths and improve overall maternal and newborn health and ensuring that no woman or baby should lose life due to maternal issues as one way of meeting Malawi 2063 Agenda.

” We are very glad that since the start of this year-to-date Bwaila hospital has never registered any maternal death and we want this to be a whole year thing and we’re also in the process of discussing with the private sectors to start providing transport to women in labor as we do not have enough ambulance as a country” chiponda said.

In her remarks Dr Neema Rusibamayila Kimambo, World Health organization country representative, said that their organization aims at ensuring that women have access to quality delivery service all over the world.

Kimambo said that “Malawi is one of the countries with high rate of teenage pregnancy that also add to the complications that occur during labor time therefore it is our mandate to make sure that every woman have access to high quality delivery service in order to promote the mother and child health across the world.”

This year’s World Health Day has been commemorated under the theme “Health begging’s, Hopeful future” and also today makes the 77 years of the World Health organization in service all over the world.

 

By Tiyamike Paul Chisale

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Agroecology Project Empowers 750 Farmers in Dowa District

The Catholic Development Commission (CADECOM) in the archdiocese of Lilongwe, in partnership with Permaculture Paradise Institute is implementing the “Improved Livelihood and Resilience of Smallholder Producers” project, with financial support from Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), and DanChurch Aid (DCA), aiming at bolstering food security and economic resilience through agroecology.

According to the secretary of CADECOM in the archdiocese, Madalitso Chilalire, the project focuses on empowering farmers with the skills and knowledge to produce diverse and nutritious food crops year-round, utilizing their surrounding compounds.

“We are encouraging them to grow different types of crops that mature at different stages in life so that their families are food sufficient and also are economically empowered,” Chilalire said.

Madalitso Chilalire (Middle) during the monitoring visit

He also added that the initiative has garnered positive feedback from the community, with many households actively practicing the newly acquired agroecological techniques.

This has been highlighted during a monitoring visit in Dowa, where the 750 participating farmers are actively engaged.

In her remarks, Miriam Njolomore, the nutritional advisor in Dowa district, praised the project for its alignment with the Malawi 2063 development agenda, emphasizing its contribution to addressing nutrition and food security challenges.

Njolomore added that the project will also help farmers to be gaining money and overcome the nutrition and food security challenges in their households throughout the year.

Adding on that, one of the farmers from Dowa west EPA of mponera, Lobizi kanjedza expressed his gratitude, stating that the initiative has helped him and others working with the project to improve their livelihoods in the way they never thought they will.

Cadecom envisions a cascading effect, where the 750 project beneficiaries will train an additional 700 non-participants in agroecological practices.

The project’s success in Dowa West EPA is anticipated to serve as a model for wider adoption of agroecology across the region, contributing to long-term food security and economic stability in Malawi.

By Tiyamike Paul Chisale