In northern Malawi’s Karonga district, 31-year-old Andrew lives with his wife, daughters and son. Like many in his village, he is a farmer. 

But farming in the region has its challenges. Climate change has caused inconsistent rainfall. With local farmers using rainfed agriculture methods, the lack of rain has caused harvests to dwindle and rates of food insecurity to climb. 

Andrew is one of the many farmers who saw lower harvests. Unable to fully support his family financially and nutritionally through farming, he began working multiple part-time jobs. But even with multiple sources of income, he struggled to make ends meet. 

In 2019, Andrew enrolled in the Harvesting Prosperity and Resilience project, implemented in Malawi’s Karonga and Mzimba districts by Rise Against Hunger and our in-country partner Foundation for Community Support Services (FOCUS). The sustainable agriculture project works to improve the food and nutrition security of 3,100 smallholder farmers and their families through an integrated approach of enhancing food production, nutrition practices and income. 

Project participants join lead farmer groups where they learn climate-resilient and labor-saving agriculture practices, establish village saving and lending associations, and receive support for their crops and livestock. Andrew was chosen to be a lead farmer, participating in trainings and cascading information and resources to the follower farmers in his group.  

One of the trainings Andrew participated in was about livestock management. With a long-standing interest in livestock but without the means to purchase animals, he was very passionate about the training. 

Andrew was one of the project participants selected to receive two female goats, and immediately put his new livestock management training skills to use. After successfully tending to his goats, they went on to birth to three kids (and counting!), which he sold and used the profits to buy food for his family. He has also passed along four goats to two follower farmers from the Harvesting Prosperity and Resilience project, Jean and Edesi.

In addition to new skills and opportunities in livestock management, Andrew has participated in conservation agriculture, crop diversification and nutrition trainings, and joined a village saving and lending association. These trainings and activities have enabled Andrew to increase his crop yields, supporting his family’s food security. “I no longer complain of hunger,” he said. “The food that I have is enough to take me up to the next harvest.” 

As a role model in his community, Andrew wants to help other farmers increase their incomes from agriculture and livestock. He said, “My doors are now open and my dreams have been fulfilled by the project, and [I] am looking forward to helping all my follower farmers so that they can also enjoy the fruits of the program.’’

Impact like this is made possible by you — our Hunger Champions. Donate through our Shop Hope marketplace to give a goat that can help change the future for farmers like Andrew, or purchase a different Shop Hope item, to help make a lasting impact toward sustainable hunger relief around the world.