Africa: An Enduring Commitment

When Malawian farmer Ifijenia Kamlaza relied on groundnut crops for a living, she had trouble supporting her family on a yield of five bags of groundnuts per acre of land. In Malawi, where 85 percent of the population lives in rural areas, farming is the backbone of the local and national economies. But, in a region ravaged by drought, economic instability, and an epidemic of HIV/AIDS, millions of Malawians lack the tools and resources with which to break free from the cycle of poverty.

To empower farmers like Kamlaza, the Clinton Hunter Development Initiative (CHDI) works to institute a model for sustainable economic growth and development in Malawi and Rwanda. By working within local communities to provide advice on improved farming techniques, negotiate purchasing agreements for low-cost seeds and other inputs, and broker purchases of harvests, CHDI works to give individual farmers a competitive edge in local and regional marketplaces.

Through her involvement with CHDI, Kamlaza was connected with the Tiyanjane Club, a group of smallholder farmers who joined together to implement the strategies devised by CHDI in Mchinji, Malawi. Kamlaza’s first yield of soy was quadruple that of her previous harvests, producing 20 bags of soy per acre. Along with providing advice, CHDI helped negotiate the market price for her goods bringing twice the usual profits.

Kamlaza’s initial success encouraged her to expand her operation for the next season and to urge others in her community to participate in the CHDI program. With her improved income, Kamlaza realized her long-standing dream of putting an iron roof on her home and paying the tuition for her eldest daughter, Esinter, to complete secondary school without having to borrow money. Living debt-free for the first time in years, Kamlaza can now also pay for her youngest daughter, Felista, to go to secondary school.

When asked what she hopes next for the farming program, Kamlaza responded: "We did not expect President Clinton to do such good things for us here in Mchinji...but I want them to continue this work so that more people can participate like I have."

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