Project News

'I had never felt success in my life before MA-SHEP. But through MA-SHEP activities I experienced success for the first time and it changed my life drastically.' said Mr Samuel Phindu of the Mtendere MA-SHEP group in Nsanje District.

"Before, we used to grow and sell groundnuts and sorghum at the local market. There was little profit. Although our group started in 2016, other members also had the same situation. But, in 2020, MA-SHEP started and through Market Survey, we discovered that several vegetables were highly demanded in the market. We started growing tomatoes and onions, which were in high demand in the market, and soon we earned cash income. We now grow four different crops, including sweet potatoes and green maize. By growing the targeted crops as a group, our group was coming to be recognised in the market and we changed our group name from Mtendere Group to Mtendere "MA-SHEP" Group. Then, in November 2021, we applied to the procurement tenders of some primary schools running the WFP school feeding programme and were able to get a contract from one primary school to make a deal in vegetables. Now we have won contracts from four primary schools to supply them with vegetables weekly basis. One small success experienced from MA-SHEP has made our group so big in a short time. Mtendere MA-SHEP will keep growing bigger in the future."

MA-SHEP Project conducted individual interviews with 200 farmers between July and September 2022. The success stories will be shared from now on.

Mr Samuel Phindu, a farmer from the Mtendere MA-SHEP group, talking about his success story.

Mr Phindu with his newly built house in 2021

Mr Phindu's Cow purchased in 2022