Changing Lives in Africa

• Overview
• Ethiopia
  • Clean Water
  • Food Security and Nutrition
  • Primary Health Care
  • Environment
  • Livelihoods
  • PeaceBuilding
• Tanzania
  • Clean Water
  • Food Security and Nutrition
  • Primary Health Care
  • Environment
  • Livelihoods
• Uganda
  • Food Security and Nutrition
  • Primary Health Care
  • Environment
  • Livelihoods
• Malawi
  • Clean Water
  • Food Security and Nutrition
  • Primary Health Care
  • Environment
  • Livelihoods
• Real Stories
  • Ethiopia
    • Improving Health and Nutrition in Ethiopia
    • Agricultural Technology Improves The Lives of Vulnerable Farmers in Ethiopia
    • Clean and Safe Water Changing Lives in Ethiopia
    • Hope For The Future
    • Potatoes for Food and Income
    • Green Pepper Production
    • Sheep Micro Loans in Ethiopia
    • Bamboo Creates Opportunities
    • Seed Fairs Boost Production
    • Icreasing The Nutritional Value of The Menu in Ethiopia
    • More Livestock - More Respect!
  • Tanzania
    • Creating Change In Tanzania
    • Training Traditional Birth Attendants on Live-Saving Practices
    • Fruit Trees for a Secure Future
    • Upendo Farmer Field School
    • Cassava Boosts Food Security
    • Farmer Field School Success Story
    • Rebeka Akoonaye Improves Her Future
    • Vegetable Gardens Improve Income
    • Rainwater Harvesting Creates Futures for Students in Karatu, Tanzania
    • Goats Transform Lives in Tanzania
    • Beekeeping Group in Bunda, Tanzania Achieve Huge Success
    • Community Health Workers Fill Critical Gap in Community Health
  • Uganda
    • Creating Change In Uganda
    • Backyard Gardening
    • Farmer Field Schools Building Self Esteem
    • Rice Production
  • Malawi
    • Strengthening Livelihoods
    • Creating Change In Malawi
    • Malawian Farmers Diversify Income
    • Small Animals-Big Profits
    • Vegetable Production Improving Livelihoods
    • Farmer Field Schools in Malawi
    • Winter Cropping in Malawi
    • Rabbit Rearing and Living with HIV
    • Saving for a Brighter Future
    • Winter Cropping Improves Income
    • Climbing the Sanitation Ladder in the Nkhotakota District
    • Planting Trees Confronts the Effects of Deforestation
  • Samson Chitsokwe
  • Likei Belay
  • Mrs. Joyce Otiti
  • Katarina Mikaeli

• Ethiopia
  • Improving Health and Nutrition in Ethiopia
  • Agricultural Technology Improves The Lives of Vulnerable Farmers in Ethiopia
  • Clean and Safe Water Changing Lives in Ethiopia
  • Hope For The Future
  • Potatoes for Food and Income
  • Green Pepper Production
  • Sheep Micro Loans in Ethiopia
  • Bamboo Creates Opportunities
  • Seed Fairs Boost Production
  • Icreasing The Nutritional Value of The Menu in Ethiopia
  • More Livestock - More Respect!
• Tanzania
  • Creating Change In Tanzania
  • Training Traditional Birth Attendants on Live-Saving Practices
  • Fruit Trees for a Secure Future
  • Upendo Farmer Field School
  • Cassava Boosts Food Security
  • Farmer Field School Success Story
  • Rebeka Akoonaye Improves Her Future
  • Vegetable Gardens Improve Income
  • Rainwater Harvesting Creates Futures for Students in Karatu, Tanzania
  • Goats Transform Lives in Tanzania
  • Beekeeping Group in Bunda, Tanzania Achieve Huge Success
  • Community Health Workers Fill Critical Gap in Community Health
• Uganda
  • Creating Change In Uganda
  • Backyard Gardening
  • Farmer Field Schools Building Self Esteem
  • Rice Production
• Malawi
  • Strengthening Livelihoods
  • Creating Change In Malawi
  • Malawian Farmers Diversify Income
  • Small Animals-Big Profits
  • Vegetable Production Improving Livelihoods
  • Farmer Field Schools in Malawi
  • Winter Cropping in Malawi
  • Rabbit Rearing and Living with HIV
  • Saving for a Brighter Future
  • Winter Cropping Improves Income
  • Climbing the Sanitation Ladder in the Nkhotakota District
  • Planting Trees Confronts the Effects of Deforestation
• Samson Chitsokwe
• Likei Belay
• Mrs. Joyce Otiti
• Katarina Mikaeli

Samson Chitsokwe

Samson Chitsokwe 36, from Mponda village was one of the first farmers to benefit from winter cropping four years ago through CPAR’s previous Moving Beyond Hunger program. Winter cropping is a practice of cultivating crops in the dry season taking advantage of the residual moisture within the lowland areas. CPAR-Malawi has been advocating for winter cropping as one way of reducing the impact of crop failure due to poor climatic conditions facing the upland areas. Under CPAR’s Moving Beyond Hunger and Farmer First Programs, farmers have been provided with start up inputs for winter cropping

Samson was given 2 kg of maize seed as start up input specially designed for the promotion of winter cropping. In that year, Samson applied a lot of manure and was able to realize good harvest. This harvest came at a time when his household had run out of food due to the erratic rains of 2006. “I was saved with the harvest from dimba garden as my household run out of food. The harvest came at the time when most of the households had no food and I was like a hero in my village.” “Since then winter cropping has become an integral part of my farming. Each year I grow different types of crops and vegetables in my winter garden. Winter cropping is working so well with me to the extent that last year I increased my maize production area to 0.1 ha. I have managed to harvest 470kg of maize from this piece of land.”  Samson explained.

Samson also managed to sell the surplus maize for $25. With that amount Samson was able to buy livestock for his household. He bought 2 goats and 2 pigs. “I never had any livestock in my family but today I am a proud owner of pigs and goats.” Samson said. “I will benefit a lot from these livestock in form of cash and proteins in addition to getting manure for my garden.”

Today Samson is the model farmer for the Farmer First Program. He is also a community facilitator for crop production at Mponda farmer field school. He is able to share his experiences with others and help them appreciate the importance of winter cropping in the lowland areas. Beside crops, Samson is also doing fish farming in his farm. “I am grateful to CPAR-Malawi for introducing winter cropping in our area which has helped a lot of people have enough food even when crops have failed in the upland gardens. I am happy that through farmer field school I am able to share my experiences with my fellow farmers.”