Newsletter
January 2026 Newsletter
19 Jan 2026
2025: The Year In The Words Of The Farmers
New Years, New Beginnings
As we begin 2026, it is a perfect opportunity to pause, reflect on the successes of 2025 and listen to the voices of some of the farmers we partner with. We heard the perspectives of those who were new to Deep Bed Farming, as well as those who have more experience, all sharing their stories of resilience and transformation.
Peter Banda (pictured above) is seventy-one years old and lives in Langa Lungu village in Emsizini with his family. He started using Deep Bed Farming in the 2023/24 growing season after admiring a Deep Bed Farming crop stand in neighbouring Ehlekweni Mzamo Soko village.
He says: “At first, I thought I was too old to break the hardpan up to 30cm deep but was encouraged by looking at some farmers in that village who were almost age-mates. I was really impressed with the Deep Bed Farming crop stand so I just thought I should try with a small area but since then I have been expanding and now I am at 0.3 ha.
"Deep Bed Farming is a bit difficult initially with the breaking of the hardpan but once you put your effort in it becomes less difficult since after breaking the hardpan, we grow our crops in the same Deep Bed for more than five years which is very good for a farmer at my age as I do not need to work so hard in the subsequent years.”
In 2025, Peter hosted a partnership demonstration between Tiyeni and Seed Co. where he planted different maize varieties using Deep Bed Farming as well as soya beans and an upland rice called Nerica. The year saw erratic rainfall during the planting season and soon after planting there was a dry spell lasting several weeks which affected the germination of the maize crops, so Peter had to replant new seed.
It is the bumper harvests from Deep Bed Farming which keep Peter motivated. He says: “I started with a small field but I managed to get fifteen tins (20kg each) of maize whereas in previous years I would only get five or six tins so this motivated me to expand my Deep Bed Farming field. Even the upland rice saw dramatic results: from just to two Deep Beds of 8m each I got 20kgs of rice and I was also able to keep some seed for this year’s growing season.
"Another thing which I have noticed is that my field seems to be improving in soil fertility. Because of marker ridges and the manure I use before planting, there is no more run off and the soil is stable so that it improves in fertility.”
Deep Bed Farming has had a dramatic impact on Peter’s family. Since adopting it, the family has been food secure. As they extend the field further this year, they hope to generate surplus which they can sell, improving further the income security of the family.
Emilia Mvula from Kausiku Nyoni village in Emsizini, was also motivated to change to Deep Bed Farming after attending a field day in Ehlkweni. Emilia says: “I visited a few field days but was most impressed with a field day at Ehlkweni. I was very impressed with the yield in Deep Bed Farming but what amazed me most was that Deep Bed Farming was able to mitigate the effects of climate change especially during dry spells; crops planted in Deep Bed Farming were not wilting and moisture retention in Deep Bed Farming was impressive unlike conventional ridges.”
Last year, Emilia planted maize, pumpkins, soya, beans and pigeon peas. As a newcomer to Deep Bed Farming, initially it was a difficult job: “When you’ve just adopted it and you’re not familiar with tilling, it is hard but once you get used to it, it becomes easier. Still, to till 0.2ha takes more time when you’re just a beginner and also to achieve the depth of 30cm is not that easy.”
But the results were worth it. “The whole month of December 2024 we did not get a drop of rain. The crops were stressed but in Deep Bed Farming the crops survived, unlike in ridges. Although the rains were so erratic, I still manged to get fifteen bags of 50kgs each. In previous years I couldn’t get that many bags in such a small area and this has motivated to increase my Deep Bed Farming from 0.2ha to 0.3ha. Looking at the weather conditions last year where the crops were mostly stressed because of the dry spells, I think I can get even more if the conditions are more favourable.”
We heard similar stories from farmers in Chiwamba.
Linly James, from Kummayani Village in Chiwamba, started using Deep Bed Farming after learning from neighbouring farmers who were practicing the technology and seeing its benefits in terms of mitigating the impacts of climate change through moisture retention and the bumper harvests achieved from a small piece of land.
Because Deep Bed Farming encourages intercropping, last year Linly planted maize together with beans and soya. The growing season saw drought conditions but with Deep Bed Farming, she was able to harvest more than her fellow farmers who were using conventional methods because of the water retaining capacity of Deep Bed Farming.
Linly agrees that the hard work of the first year pays off in subsequent years: “Despite being too intensive in the first year in terms of breaking the hardpan, Deep Bed Farming is easy to follow in subsequent years as the activities are not as labour intensive.” And the rewards make it worthwhile: “During my first year, I realised sixty bags (each weighing 50kgs) from one acre of land and the yields prompted me to expand my field with another acre.”
Linly’s household is now food secure and her livelihood has also improved through the selling of the surplus harvest.
Gladwell Joseph Kapatuka from Ntchefu Village in Kalulu EPA, Lilongwe, adopted Deep Bed Farming in 2023.
He says he had a number of objectives when he set out: to address declining soil fertility, conserve soil and water, increase the harvest compared to previous years, enhance environmental management and to become a successful farmer.
Like many other farmers we talked to, the growing conditions for Gladwell were characterized by dry spells, although the impact of these was less severe than for farmers practicing conventional farming.
Gladwell is clear about the benefits: “My harvest has been consistently good since I started using Deep Bed Farming. I have never had a year without a good harvest, and every season has been rewarding with bumper yields. Currently, I harvest about 190 bags of maize per hectare, along with additional yields from legumes planted in the middle of the beds. In previous years, I was growing only maize and harvesting 30 bags per hectare or less, and it required a lot of labour.”
And for Gladwell and his family, the impact has been immense. “This has made a significant difference to me and my family. I have moved from poverty to prosperity, enabling me to build four houses with iron sheet and cement floors, purchase an additional two acres of land and invest in livestock such as goats and pigs to ensure a steady supply of manure. I have also been able to buy a motorcycle, two smartphones, eight pick axes, agricultural inputs including ten bags of fertilizer, and 40kg of hybrid seeds and, most importantly, pay the university fees for my child to study at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources.”
As the year 2025 ends and we look forward to 2026, the voices of farmers like Peter Banda, Emilia Mvula, Linly James, and Gladwell Joseph Kapatuka offer powerful testimony to the life-changing impact of adopting Deep Bed Farming. Their narratives consistently reveal how, even in the face of challenging and erratic weather conditions, the innovative technique effectively retains soil moisture and boosts fertility, consistently yielding bumper harvests. Beyond mere food security, their experiences (along with many others we couldn’t include here) underscore a path from subsistence farming to economic empowerment and long-term resilience for their families.
Building resilience in southern Malawi
In Mulanje in southern Malawi, smallholder farmers, long grappling with the relentless pressures of climate change, declining soil productivity and chronic food insecurity, have been embracing Deep Bed Farming. Funded by the Guernsey Overseas Aid & Development Commission, through the Mulanje Catchment Management Project, Tiyeni has not just introduced a new farming method to these communities but also cultivated resilience in both landscapes and communities, demonstrating measurable success in boosting yields, securing food sources and protecting the environment.
Like the rest of Malawi, farmers in Mulanje face myriad challenges from unpredictable dry spells and poor soil fertility to significant soil erosion and limited access to vital extension services. These issues, amplified by the climate crisis, make climate adaptation not merely beneficial, but critical for household income and food security. The project was conceived with clear, ambitious goals: train 530 farmers, boost crop yield and food security by 50%, slash water runoff and soil erosion by 80% and 50% respectively and reduce gully formation by 90%.
In the autumn, Tiyeni produced the impact assessment report for the project’s first year which revealed compelling evidence of Deep Bed Farming’s effectiveness. Despite the season experiencing a dry spell, a condition that often devastates conventional crops, maize planted in Deep Bed Farming fields yielded at least 70% more than that using conventional farming methods, highlighting the inherent resilience of the Deep Bed Farming approach.
Improved crop yields directly translate to better food security at the household level. The project is utilizing the standardised Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) to measure progress. Post-intervention data showed that 26% of participating households are now food secure, with another 24% experiencing only mild insecurity. While challenges remain, with 44% still reporting moderate insecurity, this is only after one year and so these figures represent a significant improvement from the baseline, meaning approximately half of participants now face relatively limited challenges in accessing food. The project has begun to shift families from chronic insecurity to a more stable, food-secure future.
A cornerstone of the project’s success is its direct impact on land management. Significant erosion control structures were built across the Njema and Magagada catchments. Farmers constructed hundreds of swales, contour marker ridges and check dams, many reinforced with naturally growing vetiver grass, to reclaim gullies and conserve water. A comparative study using 102 erosion pits provided concrete data on the environmental benefits. The results are clear: Deep Bed Farming plots experience significantly lower soil erosion. The average soil loss under Deep Bed Farming was 49 kg, compared to 68 kg under traditional ridges. This represents a substantial reduction of around 27% in relative terms, a figure that reached up to 46% in some specific locations. This was in the first year and addressing this issue will improve year on year.
By reducing soil erosion, Deep Bed Farming conserves fertile topsoil and enhances water infiltration, protecting the land from long-term degradation. It’s an approach that not only improves current farm productivity but contributes to wider climate resilience and sustainable land management goals, in contrast to traditional ridging methods that leave soil vulnerable to the elements.
Strong collaboration between government extension staff, Tiyeni and farmers is helping to ensure successful project implementation from start to finish, as well as attracting new partners such as Baseflow, CARDCOM, CARD and One Acre Fund who are now adopting Deep Bed Farming techniques with farmers in Balaka and Chikwawa districts.
Mr MacWilson Qongwane, Agriculture Extension Methodology Officer for Mulanje, commented that Deep Bed Farming has had a lasting impact in the target area. After seeing late-planted maize thriving in Deep Bed fields despite the lack of rain, he organised a field day to showcase Deep Bed Farming to the wider community as a Climate-Smart Technology which can significantly improve farmers’ livelihoods.
However, challenges persist. Theft and vandalism of plastic linings, limited seasonal data and the ever-present threat of climate shocks and pests require ongoing attention.
The report recommends multi-seasonal monitoring for more reliable data and, crucially, scaling up the adoption of Deep Bed Farming practices. The demand is already growing, a testament to the visible success that farmers are experiencing.
The Guernsey Mulanje Catchment Management Project serves as a powerful model for climate adaptation. The impact assessment report demonstrates that with the right tools, training and community commitment, smallholder farmers can not only survive the climate crisis but thrive. By building resilient landscapes through climate-smart agriculture, Deep Bed Farming is helping to secure a more prosperous and food-secure future for the people of Mulanje.
Farewell to Alex Gerard, Tiyeni’s Executive Director
At the end of 2025, Tiyeni bid a sad farewell to Alex Gerard, its first Executive Director. Alex was Executive Director from 2021 to 2025 and during that time he led Tiyeni through a period of significant growth and development.
We caught up with him to hear his reflections of his time in the role.
What were your initial expectations for this role, and how did the reality compare?
I knew that I was coming into Tiyeni at an exciting time, and becoming the first Executive Director, I knew that there was a lot to do in the role. The main expectations were to build the organisation to become more robust and capable of dealing with the changing funding landscape we have seen over the last few years. The reality coming in was that was a lot to do to bring Tiyeni's infrastructure up to speed to allow us to compete with other charities in a highly competitive market.
What have been the biggest challenges that Tiyeni has had to face during your time as Executive Director?
Building all the systems and processes was a challenge, especially with a geographically-dispersed team, but this was critical to making the organisation as efficient as possible. Scaling up has been a big challenge, as our way of delivering doesn't fit the standard model that funders are looking for. Through the years of delivering and developing Deep Bed Farming, we know that we need to support farmers for three years to embed the practices and ensure that they are able to continue to use Deep Bed Farming effectively; however multi-year funding is rare, resulting in programmes that have to be reduced in scale and thus impact.
Is there something that you feel particularly proud of?
There is so much! Back in 2022, after a lot of hard work, we persuaded the Government of Malawi to include Deep Bed Farming as an officially-approved technology for farmers. This important decision paved the way for so much subsequent activity and our work with the Ministry of Agriculture, partners, NGOs and funders.
I am particularly proud of how we are now looking at more innovative ways to build the capacity of the team and present our work to potential funders. This has included working with our partners on the Aftrak Solar Tractor systems, and our approach to water catchment management. We are now able to present our work as not only vital to increase food and water security in Africa, but also as important to stabilise whole ecosystems which benefit both communities and flora and fauna.
How do you see Tiyeni continuing to grow and evolve in the coming years?
I see Tiyeni really evolving in the catchment management arena, showcasing how a truly holistic approach can work, whilst empowering communities to take control and achieve water and food security.
What will you miss most about the role and Tiyeni?
As well as missing the amazing team, I will miss seeing the impact each week in the reports from the frontline team. I will also miss talking about the amazing work Tiyeni does. It was always special to see the exact moment someone I was talking to understood why breaking the hardpan is critical to the success of Deep Bed Farming.
Looking back over the last four years, what moments stand out most vividly for you?
My first trip to Malawi will always stand out. I was taken on a national tour of our sites to meet the team and the communities that we support. Hearing the stories first-hand is truly humbling and inspiring, and seeing how Deep Bed Farming can change whole communities.
Winning the 2024 Milken-Motsepe Grand Prize in Green Energy was amazing, seeing how our work could be part of a larger solution for communities. Designing and launching our first catchment management programme was also one of the highlights. As someone with a background in landscape scale solutions I was so proud to see the Lunyangwa programme start and I will follow its progress closely.
On a personal note, seeing the sunsets and sunrises over Lake Malawi was so special to me, as was seeing Malawi cichlids in the wild for the first time, as they were a fish that inspired me as a child.
Our work is only possible thanks to you, our dedicated supporters. Still thinking about a New Year's resolution? Why not set up a monthly gift? To do so, please scan the QR code or click the button below.
Donate now
As we begin 2026, it is a perfect opportunity to pause, reflect on the successes of 2025 and listen to the voices of some of the farmers we partner with. We heard the perspectives of those who were new to Deep Bed Farming, as well as those who have more experience, all sharing their stories of resilience and transformation.
Peter Banda (pictured above) is seventy-one years old and lives in Langa Lungu village in Emsizini with his family. He started using Deep Bed Farming in the 2023/24 growing season after admiring a Deep Bed Farming crop stand in neighbouring Ehlekweni Mzamo Soko village.
He says: “At first, I thought I was too old to break the hardpan up to 30cm deep but was encouraged by looking at some farmers in that village who were almost age-mates. I was really impressed with the Deep Bed Farming crop stand so I just thought I should try with a small area but since then I have been expanding and now I am at 0.3 ha.
"Deep Bed Farming is a bit difficult initially with the breaking of the hardpan but once you put your effort in it becomes less difficult since after breaking the hardpan, we grow our crops in the same Deep Bed for more than five years which is very good for a farmer at my age as I do not need to work so hard in the subsequent years.”
In 2025, Peter hosted a partnership demonstration between Tiyeni and Seed Co. where he planted different maize varieties using Deep Bed Farming as well as soya beans and an upland rice called Nerica. The year saw erratic rainfall during the planting season and soon after planting there was a dry spell lasting several weeks which affected the germination of the maize crops, so Peter had to replant new seed.
It is the bumper harvests from Deep Bed Farming which keep Peter motivated. He says: “I started with a small field but I managed to get fifteen tins (20kg each) of maize whereas in previous years I would only get five or six tins so this motivated me to expand my Deep Bed Farming field. Even the upland rice saw dramatic results: from just to two Deep Beds of 8m each I got 20kgs of rice and I was also able to keep some seed for this year’s growing season.
"Another thing which I have noticed is that my field seems to be improving in soil fertility. Because of marker ridges and the manure I use before planting, there is no more run off and the soil is stable so that it improves in fertility.”
Deep Bed Farming has had a dramatic impact on Peter’s family. Since adopting it, the family has been food secure. As they extend the field further this year, they hope to generate surplus which they can sell, improving further the income security of the family.
Emilia Mvula from Kausiku Nyoni village in Emsizini, was also motivated to change to Deep Bed Farming after attending a field day in Ehlkweni. Emilia says: “I visited a few field days but was most impressed with a field day at Ehlkweni. I was very impressed with the yield in Deep Bed Farming but what amazed me most was that Deep Bed Farming was able to mitigate the effects of climate change especially during dry spells; crops planted in Deep Bed Farming were not wilting and moisture retention in Deep Bed Farming was impressive unlike conventional ridges.”
Last year, Emilia planted maize, pumpkins, soya, beans and pigeon peas. As a newcomer to Deep Bed Farming, initially it was a difficult job: “When you’ve just adopted it and you’re not familiar with tilling, it is hard but once you get used to it, it becomes easier. Still, to till 0.2ha takes more time when you’re just a beginner and also to achieve the depth of 30cm is not that easy.”
But the results were worth it. “The whole month of December 2024 we did not get a drop of rain. The crops were stressed but in Deep Bed Farming the crops survived, unlike in ridges. Although the rains were so erratic, I still manged to get fifteen bags of 50kgs each. In previous years I couldn’t get that many bags in such a small area and this has motivated to increase my Deep Bed Farming from 0.2ha to 0.3ha. Looking at the weather conditions last year where the crops were mostly stressed because of the dry spells, I think I can get even more if the conditions are more favourable.”
We heard similar stories from farmers in Chiwamba.
Linly James, from Kummayani Village in Chiwamba, started using Deep Bed Farming after learning from neighbouring farmers who were practicing the technology and seeing its benefits in terms of mitigating the impacts of climate change through moisture retention and the bumper harvests achieved from a small piece of land.
Because Deep Bed Farming encourages intercropping, last year Linly planted maize together with beans and soya. The growing season saw drought conditions but with Deep Bed Farming, she was able to harvest more than her fellow farmers who were using conventional methods because of the water retaining capacity of Deep Bed Farming.
Linly agrees that the hard work of the first year pays off in subsequent years: “Despite being too intensive in the first year in terms of breaking the hardpan, Deep Bed Farming is easy to follow in subsequent years as the activities are not as labour intensive.” And the rewards make it worthwhile: “During my first year, I realised sixty bags (each weighing 50kgs) from one acre of land and the yields prompted me to expand my field with another acre.”
Linly’s household is now food secure and her livelihood has also improved through the selling of the surplus harvest.
Gladwell Joseph Kapatuka from Ntchefu Village in Kalulu EPA, Lilongwe, adopted Deep Bed Farming in 2023.
He says he had a number of objectives when he set out: to address declining soil fertility, conserve soil and water, increase the harvest compared to previous years, enhance environmental management and to become a successful farmer.
Like many other farmers we talked to, the growing conditions for Gladwell were characterized by dry spells, although the impact of these was less severe than for farmers practicing conventional farming.
Gladwell is clear about the benefits: “My harvest has been consistently good since I started using Deep Bed Farming. I have never had a year without a good harvest, and every season has been rewarding with bumper yields. Currently, I harvest about 190 bags of maize per hectare, along with additional yields from legumes planted in the middle of the beds. In previous years, I was growing only maize and harvesting 30 bags per hectare or less, and it required a lot of labour.”
And for Gladwell and his family, the impact has been immense. “This has made a significant difference to me and my family. I have moved from poverty to prosperity, enabling me to build four houses with iron sheet and cement floors, purchase an additional two acres of land and invest in livestock such as goats and pigs to ensure a steady supply of manure. I have also been able to buy a motorcycle, two smartphones, eight pick axes, agricultural inputs including ten bags of fertilizer, and 40kg of hybrid seeds and, most importantly, pay the university fees for my child to study at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources.”
As the year 2025 ends and we look forward to 2026, the voices of farmers like Peter Banda, Emilia Mvula, Linly James, and Gladwell Joseph Kapatuka offer powerful testimony to the life-changing impact of adopting Deep Bed Farming. Their narratives consistently reveal how, even in the face of challenging and erratic weather conditions, the innovative technique effectively retains soil moisture and boosts fertility, consistently yielding bumper harvests. Beyond mere food security, their experiences (along with many others we couldn’t include here) underscore a path from subsistence farming to economic empowerment and long-term resilience for their families.
Building resilience in southern Malawi
In Mulanje in southern Malawi, smallholder farmers, long grappling with the relentless pressures of climate change, declining soil productivity and chronic food insecurity, have been embracing Deep Bed Farming. Funded by the Guernsey Overseas Aid & Development Commission, through the Mulanje Catchment Management Project, Tiyeni has not just introduced a new farming method to these communities but also cultivated resilience in both landscapes and communities, demonstrating measurable success in boosting yields, securing food sources and protecting the environment.
Like the rest of Malawi, farmers in Mulanje face myriad challenges from unpredictable dry spells and poor soil fertility to significant soil erosion and limited access to vital extension services. These issues, amplified by the climate crisis, make climate adaptation not merely beneficial, but critical for household income and food security. The project was conceived with clear, ambitious goals: train 530 farmers, boost crop yield and food security by 50%, slash water runoff and soil erosion by 80% and 50% respectively and reduce gully formation by 90%.
In the autumn, Tiyeni produced the impact assessment report for the project’s first year which revealed compelling evidence of Deep Bed Farming’s effectiveness. Despite the season experiencing a dry spell, a condition that often devastates conventional crops, maize planted in Deep Bed Farming fields yielded at least 70% more than that using conventional farming methods, highlighting the inherent resilience of the Deep Bed Farming approach.
Improved crop yields directly translate to better food security at the household level. The project is utilizing the standardised Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) to measure progress. Post-intervention data showed that 26% of participating households are now food secure, with another 24% experiencing only mild insecurity. While challenges remain, with 44% still reporting moderate insecurity, this is only after one year and so these figures represent a significant improvement from the baseline, meaning approximately half of participants now face relatively limited challenges in accessing food. The project has begun to shift families from chronic insecurity to a more stable, food-secure future.
A cornerstone of the project’s success is its direct impact on land management. Significant erosion control structures were built across the Njema and Magagada catchments. Farmers constructed hundreds of swales, contour marker ridges and check dams, many reinforced with naturally growing vetiver grass, to reclaim gullies and conserve water. A comparative study using 102 erosion pits provided concrete data on the environmental benefits. The results are clear: Deep Bed Farming plots experience significantly lower soil erosion. The average soil loss under Deep Bed Farming was 49 kg, compared to 68 kg under traditional ridges. This represents a substantial reduction of around 27% in relative terms, a figure that reached up to 46% in some specific locations. This was in the first year and addressing this issue will improve year on year.
By reducing soil erosion, Deep Bed Farming conserves fertile topsoil and enhances water infiltration, protecting the land from long-term degradation. It’s an approach that not only improves current farm productivity but contributes to wider climate resilience and sustainable land management goals, in contrast to traditional ridging methods that leave soil vulnerable to the elements.
Strong collaboration between government extension staff, Tiyeni and farmers is helping to ensure successful project implementation from start to finish, as well as attracting new partners such as Baseflow, CARDCOM, CARD and One Acre Fund who are now adopting Deep Bed Farming techniques with farmers in Balaka and Chikwawa districts.
Mr MacWilson Qongwane, Agriculture Extension Methodology Officer for Mulanje, commented that Deep Bed Farming has had a lasting impact in the target area. After seeing late-planted maize thriving in Deep Bed fields despite the lack of rain, he organised a field day to showcase Deep Bed Farming to the wider community as a Climate-Smart Technology which can significantly improve farmers’ livelihoods.
However, challenges persist. Theft and vandalism of plastic linings, limited seasonal data and the ever-present threat of climate shocks and pests require ongoing attention.
The report recommends multi-seasonal monitoring for more reliable data and, crucially, scaling up the adoption of Deep Bed Farming practices. The demand is already growing, a testament to the visible success that farmers are experiencing.
The Guernsey Mulanje Catchment Management Project serves as a powerful model for climate adaptation. The impact assessment report demonstrates that with the right tools, training and community commitment, smallholder farmers can not only survive the climate crisis but thrive. By building resilient landscapes through climate-smart agriculture, Deep Bed Farming is helping to secure a more prosperous and food-secure future for the people of Mulanje.
Farewell to Alex Gerard, Tiyeni’s Executive Director
At the end of 2025, Tiyeni bid a sad farewell to Alex Gerard, its first Executive Director. Alex was Executive Director from 2021 to 2025 and during that time he led Tiyeni through a period of significant growth and development.
We caught up with him to hear his reflections of his time in the role.
What were your initial expectations for this role, and how did the reality compare?
I knew that I was coming into Tiyeni at an exciting time, and becoming the first Executive Director, I knew that there was a lot to do in the role. The main expectations were to build the organisation to become more robust and capable of dealing with the changing funding landscape we have seen over the last few years. The reality coming in was that was a lot to do to bring Tiyeni's infrastructure up to speed to allow us to compete with other charities in a highly competitive market.
What have been the biggest challenges that Tiyeni has had to face during your time as Executive Director?
Building all the systems and processes was a challenge, especially with a geographically-dispersed team, but this was critical to making the organisation as efficient as possible. Scaling up has been a big challenge, as our way of delivering doesn't fit the standard model that funders are looking for. Through the years of delivering and developing Deep Bed Farming, we know that we need to support farmers for three years to embed the practices and ensure that they are able to continue to use Deep Bed Farming effectively; however multi-year funding is rare, resulting in programmes that have to be reduced in scale and thus impact.
Is there something that you feel particularly proud of?
There is so much! Back in 2022, after a lot of hard work, we persuaded the Government of Malawi to include Deep Bed Farming as an officially-approved technology for farmers. This important decision paved the way for so much subsequent activity and our work with the Ministry of Agriculture, partners, NGOs and funders.
I am particularly proud of how we are now looking at more innovative ways to build the capacity of the team and present our work to potential funders. This has included working with our partners on the Aftrak Solar Tractor systems, and our approach to water catchment management. We are now able to present our work as not only vital to increase food and water security in Africa, but also as important to stabilise whole ecosystems which benefit both communities and flora and fauna.
How do you see Tiyeni continuing to grow and evolve in the coming years?
I see Tiyeni really evolving in the catchment management arena, showcasing how a truly holistic approach can work, whilst empowering communities to take control and achieve water and food security.
What will you miss most about the role and Tiyeni?
As well as missing the amazing team, I will miss seeing the impact each week in the reports from the frontline team. I will also miss talking about the amazing work Tiyeni does. It was always special to see the exact moment someone I was talking to understood why breaking the hardpan is critical to the success of Deep Bed Farming.
Looking back over the last four years, what moments stand out most vividly for you?
My first trip to Malawi will always stand out. I was taken on a national tour of our sites to meet the team and the communities that we support. Hearing the stories first-hand is truly humbling and inspiring, and seeing how Deep Bed Farming can change whole communities.
Winning the 2024 Milken-Motsepe Grand Prize in Green Energy was amazing, seeing how our work could be part of a larger solution for communities. Designing and launching our first catchment management programme was also one of the highlights. As someone with a background in landscape scale solutions I was so proud to see the Lunyangwa programme start and I will follow its progress closely.
On a personal note, seeing the sunsets and sunrises over Lake Malawi was so special to me, as was seeing Malawi cichlids in the wild for the first time, as they were a fish that inspired me as a child.
Our work is only possible thanks to you, our dedicated supporters. Still thinking about a New Year's resolution? Why not set up a monthly gift? To do so, please scan the QR code or click the button below.
Donate now
Our work is only possible thanks to you, our dedicated supporters. Please consider donating to help to lift a farmer, or a family, in Malawi out of poverty and set them up for life.
