PROJECTS

Harvest Prosperity and Resilience (HPR)

FOCUS in partner with Rise Against Hunger (RAH) is implementing the Harvesting Prosperity and Resilience in Malawi project seeking to enhance the food security, community resilience and sustainable agricultural livelihood in Malawi. it is targeting 2,100 smallholder farmers in Karonga and Mzimba districts through an integrated approach. The project will also help smallholder producers build resilience to shocks and stresses of climate change. The implementation period for the project is two years starting from May, 2019 to April, 2021. In Karonga the project will be implemented in Mlare and Kasoba sections, some of the areas in the district that have recently been worst hit by adverse climatic conditions including droughts, dry spells and floods.

In this reporting period FOCUS executed activities that contribute to strengthen the capacities of local structures of District Civil Protection Committees (DCPCs), Area Development Committees (ADCs), Area Civil Protection Committees (ACPCs), Village Development Committees (VDCs) and Village Civil Protection Committees (VCPCs) to effectively coordinate and ensure project sustainability by April 2021; Increase crop production and diversification among 2,100 smallholder farmers in Karonga and Mzimba districts through the adoption of modern and climate-smart agricultural methods by April 2021; build the capacities of 2,100 smallholder farmers in Karonga and Mzimba districts to adapt to climatic variations and hazards by April 2021; and enhance the incomes of 2,100 smallholder farmers through the promotion of small-scale livestock production, market linkages and VSLs by April 2021.

output/ outcomes

1. 

   

   
   Identified a total of 70 lead farmers (39 (56%) males and 31 (44%) females) in Karonga and Mzimba district. Each identified lead farmer has 9 follower farmers. All the identified Lead farmers (70) were trained in Climate smart Agriculture and Manure making.
2. identified 630 follower farmers (210 (44%) Males and 350 (56%) Females) in Karonga and Mzimba based on their economic status. The most vulnerable group and poor households were identified. Each identified Lead farmer has 9 follower farmers. Therefore, a total to 700 farmers the project beneficiaries in Karonga and Mzimba.
3. Conducted a Participatory Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (PVCA) in Karonaa and Mzimba Districts.This activity was done to understand the vulnerability and capacity including economical level of households in the project targeted areas. It was conducted before the identification of the project beneficiaries. It also formed a basis on how different communities differentiate households by worth.
4. Household beneficiary assessment survey was conducted to mark as a project baseline. The survey targeted all the 700 identified beneficiaries. A questionnaire was administered by FOCUS staff and Interns after being oriented. The activity was supervised by the project M&E and Learning and Assessment officer. In Karonga, 466 farmers were assessed, representing 72% of the project total target (700) and 234 (28%) beneficiaries were targeted in the survey in Mzimba district.