By Mabvuto Kalawa
Hidden in Kalembeni Village under Traditional Authority Chadza, a quiet farming revolution is taking root.
Mustard Phiri is leading it.
What started as a small dimba garden has grown into a multi-enterprise farm that feeds his family and funds his future.
Walk through his plot and you will find more than maize.
Rows of sugarcane stand beside beds of tomatoes, cabbage and peppers.
Fruit trees dot the land too, with pawpaw, mango, banana and guava offering both nutrition and cash.
But Mr. Phiri did not stop at the soil.
His compound is alive with ducks, goats, pigs and indigenous chickens.
Two tilapia ponds also shimmer at the edge of the garden, adding protein and another income stream.
For him, putting all effort into one crop never made sense.
“Depending on one crop is risky,” he said during an interview at his farm.
“When I grow different things, my family eats well and I always have something to sell.”
To beat the dry season, he invested in a solar-powered pump.
With it, he practices both rain-fed and winter irrigation.
Waste does not go to waste either.
Crop stalks become feed for his animals and fish, creating a cycle that cuts costs.
That approach is paying off.
Proceeds from the farm have bought him a motorcycle for transport.
They also funded a solar pump, a small grocery shop, and the construction of his own home.
The road has not been smooth.
Markets are hard to reach, and agricultural extension officers rarely stop by.
Yet Mr. Phiri refuses to be discouraged.
“I learn from other farmers and I rely on the knowledge passed down in our communities,” he said.
His message to fellow Malawians is simple and direct.
“Agriculture can change your life. Do not look down on it. There is money in farming.”
Now he is thinking bigger.
His goal is to mechanize the entire farm with tractors and modern equipment.
He also envisions a mango juice processing factory that could create jobs locally.
To get there, he is seeking financial support from lenders such as MEDEF.
Mr. Phiri traces his roots to Chowa Village under Traditional Authority Kalumbu, also in Lilongwe District.
He is married and a father of two.
In a country where many still see farming as a last resort, his story offers a different view.
With diversity, innovation and determination, the land can do more than sustain.
It can build wealth.
