By Upile Muhariwa and Mac Donald Chiwayula
My name is Joyce Thom. When the Sustainable Agriculture Production Programme (SAPP) was first introduced in my community in 2016, I had no idea just how much it would transform my life. As a farmer in the Mlomba Extension Planning Area (EPA) in Lilongwe District, I had always struggled with low yields and limited access to resources. But everything changed when I became a beneficiary of the SAPP programme.
Back then, I received five goats through the goat pass-on initiative. With proper breeding and livestock management training provided by the extension workers, my herd has since grown to 34 goats. I’ve also been able to sell 15 goats for MWK 975,000 (equivalent to USD 550)—a life-changing amount for me and my family. Before SAPP, our farming methods were not sustainable. We didn’t know how to maximize production or manage our resources well. But with the knowledge I gained, I started making manure from goat waste, which has significantly improved the fertility of my land and, in turn, my crop yields.
The improvements in both crop and livestock farming have enabled me to send my children to school and meet our daily needs. With the income I’ve generated, I was also able to open a tea-room restaurant, which now provides for my day-to-day expenses. This business, alongside my farming activities, has made me more self-reliant and confident about my future. On 5th March 2025, I had the great honor of sharing my story when the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Benedicto Chambo, visited our area to see the impact of SAPP II, the successor to the original programme that was launched in July 2024. He toured our district to witness firsthand how sustainable agriculture is improving lives—especially for women like me.
During his visit, he met with many stakeholders including Ms. Joyce James Chisakasa, the DASP Chairperson for Lilongwe District, who shared how SAPP structures have strengthened agricultural productivity in our region. One inspiring highlight was the Mlomba Livestock Group, which received 500 goats in 2016 and has since increased that number to over 4,188 goats, benefiting more than 276 households, all through the same pass-on system that changed my life. Now with SAPP II, the reach is even broader.
The new programme will scale up these initiatives and is set to benefit 80,000 smallholder farming households—about 400,000 people, with 50% of them being women. I’m proud to be one of the many women smiling all the way because of sustainable farming. SAPP has not just changed my livelihood—it has given me hope, dignity, and a future.
The author is a Communication & Knowledge Management Specialist and CCARDESA ICKM Focal point person for Malawi, whereas the other is a Journalist at Malawi Broadcasting Station.
