Image: Members of Mbidzi’s self-formed grain bank (credit: Gift Munthali)
Mbidzi village is located in Dedza district, Malawi. Until recently, people living there struggled to access enough food. But this changed when farming families decided to set up their own ‘grain bank’.
A grain bank is a place where locally produced food grain is stored, and then shared and eaten during the lean season. Grain banks were introduced by United Purpose’s ASPIRE programme after research showed that many communities in Dedza district faced chronic food insecurity during the lean period (December-March), due to lack of access to agriculture inputs and post-harvest losses.
Inspired by success
People living in Mbidzi learned about grain banks from neighbouring villages participating in UP’s ASPIRE programme. They decided to establish their own, which has resulted in participating community members having food all year round:
“We used to face persistent hunger all the time and we admired our neighbours who were being supported by United Purpose through the ASPIRE Programme,” explains one community member. “We were keen to learn from them and we mobilised ourselves to establish our own grain bank with support from our local leaders.”
Mbidzi village independently started its grain bank in 2021 as a result of influential local leaders who wanted to do something about the persistent hunger people experienced every year.
“Excited to have food all the time”
The grain bank helped communities to source food locally at an affordable price and sparked new income-generating opportunities and small businesses. It also minimised challenges faced by vulnerable people (e.g. the elderly, people with disabilities, female-headed and child-headed households) who found it difficult to go long distances searching for food. The membership continues to grow, with each member contributing three bags of maize and 7kgs groundnuts:
“We are very excited to have food all the time even during lean period. We know our stock is safely stored and we have significantly minimised grain loss and can easily be accessed when required,” said one group member.
On the path to a better future
Currently, the grain bank has earned K450,000.00 (487.96 Euros) from maize and groundnuts sales. The proceeds are loaned to members to purchase agriculture inputs, such as seeds and fertilisers. Some 18 bags have been loaned to members to provide their families with food and six bags were used to support vulnerable members. The group further earned K280,000.00 (303.62 euros) sourced from piecemeal work (‘ganyu’), which was used to buy three pigs and four goats.
The group has also invested in buying more land to cultivate groundnuts: “We are thankful to the local leaders and grain bank leadership for bringing food on the table through the community grain bank,” said one elderly woman.
The chairperson of the grain bank spoke of his appreciation of the mentorship and encouragement from their neighbours: “We are thankful to our neighbours from for opening up and encouraging us to start our own grain bank. We are now food secure and on the right path for a better future,” said Jefi Jasi, Chair for Mbidzi grain bank.
Context:
UP’s ASPIRE programme is promoting grain banks in Malawian communities to achieve food and income security, and promote community resilience to climatic shocks and other stressors. Mbidzi is one of 74 community grain banks established with programme support, reaching 13,685 (5,751 men and 7,934 women).
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