A Sack of Fertilizer that Paved the Way for Change

It is late morning, and the heat is intense. The sun is directly overhead. Outside the low brick house, women and children gather on the small yard. In an open kitchen building, a woman stirs a pot of nsima, a maize porridge that forms the basis of most meals here in rural Malawi. Werengani Nabot is the only man present. This is his and his wife Sitela’s home, and we sit down together on a mat to talk.

Werengani, like many others in the Dedza district, was once a poor farmer struggling to make ends meet. Concern for the future, especially for his children’s education, was overwhelming. Money was lacking to pay for school fees and supplies.

“I heard about a local organization offering training here, and I became curious,” says Werengani.

The organization was Youth Action for Success and Development (YASD), one of IM’s partners in the region. They focus on strengthening the economic position of youth and women through sustainable agriculture and green innovations.

Werengani was accepted into a training program consisting of five-day sessions over three months. The curriculum covered environmentally-friendly briquette and fertilizer production, creating tumblers from recycled glass, planting trees, as well as business and accounting skills.

From Waste to Income

Werengani speaks enthusiastically about the various training modules. He stands up, walks off, and returns with a heavy sack. He opens it and proudly reveals its contents – organic fertilizer he has made himself. The smell is pungent, and it turns out that one of the key ingredients is urine mixed with ash, manure, plant matter, and sawdust. The manufacturing process takes several weeks, and the result is an eco-friendly fertilizer that has revolutionized his crops.

“I could hardly afford fertilizer before,” says Werengani.
“And the fertilizer available was full of chemicals and imported from Russia. This one is much better in every way!” he adds, smiling.

In addition to using it for his own crops, Werengani has started selling the surplus to people in the village. A bag is sold for 25,000 kwacha (about 160 SEK), a significant income in this rural area.

Long Walks and Fertile Fields

We set off to see the crops. “It’s a bit of a walk,” says Werengani, suggesting it might be better to take the car. We drive along narrow, bumpy roads for what feels like an eternity.

“It only takes an hour and a half to walk to the farm,” says Werengani.
He and Sitela walk there every day, spending three hours on foot tending to their fields.

Upon arrival, we are greeted by lush plots of land. Tomato plants and onions stand in neat rows, hearty pumpkin vines spread out, and banana trees provide shade at the edge of one of the fields. Werengani proudly shows us around, explaining the different crops.

“Thanks to the fertilizer, my crops are much, much bigger now than before. I sell tomatoes and onions at the market every Saturday and still have more than enough for our own needs.”

Werengani fills a watering can at a nearby borehole. His dream is to install a solar-powered water pump to further expand his farming.

Sharing Knowledge in the Village

The newly acquired knowledge has truly transformed Werengani and his family’s life. But the training he received from YASD is not benefiting him alone. He has begun educating others, sharing his skills.

“When we have community meetings, our local leader has asked me to come and hold courses. So, I have. So far, I’ve taught 373 people how to make fertilizer,” says Werengani, grinning widely.

Werengani Nabot is a living example of how knowledge and sustainable methods can change lives. By sharing his experiences and skills, he is helping build a stronger, greener future for his entire community. His story shows that small, local efforts can create ripples of change – and that transformation always starts with a seed, both literally and figuratively.