Farming, Food, and Empowerment: The Journey of Malawi’s Homes Industries

By Yohane Chideya, Justice Munthali, Eliud Birachi and Jean Claude Rubyogo

In 2016, Victoria Mwafulirwa took her first steps into Malawi’s small scale agrifood processing landscape. Her venture, Homes Industries, began almost by accident in the northern district of Karonga. After a lucrative catering contract with a local company ended, Mwafulirwa shifted her focus to producing groundnut flour, seizing a market opportunity that has since blossomed into a beacon of hope for thousands of smallholder farmers across Malawi’s Karonga, Chitipa, and Nkhata Bay districts.

Although initially unplanned, Homes Industries swiftly gained momentum. Victoria recognized the crucial role women play in managing households and supporting families, prompting her to forge partnerships with local female farmers. These collaborations are designed to economically empower farmers while promoting balanced nutrition within their communities. As a result, Victoria’s agrifood business has rapidly evolved into a significant economic force, delivering essential benefits to rural communities.

Empowering Farmers and Building Communities

Homes Industries operates with a model designed to support smallholder farmers with at least one acre of land. The company not only provides a ready market for their crops but also engages them throughout the agricultural cycle. Farmers receive training on good agricultural practices, post-harvest management, and business skills, all aimed at maximizing yields and improving crop quality. Essential inputs like certified seeds are provided, with ongoing extension services throughout the growing season.

One key collaborator is the Kiwe Farmers Club in Karonga, comprising 500 members, 320 of whom are women. This group specializes in Kilombero rice, a highly sought-after variety in Malawi. Club member Agnes Ngwira notes that their partnership with Homes Industries has transformed their farming practices, enabling them to sell their rice at competitive prices, improving their incomes, and sending their children to school.

Beyond rice, Homes Industries actively supports farmers cultivating chili peppers, sunflowers, tomatoes, groundnuts, and honey. The company transforms these products into value-added items like cooking oil, peanut butter, and dried tomatoes, significantly boosting farmers’ profitability. This commitment contributes to an impressive annual production of 200 tons of rice, 300 tons of groundnuts, 350 tons of sunflower seeds, 3 tons of honey, 5 tons of tomatoes and 20 tons of beans.

The CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator (CFSA) Programme

The CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator (CFSA), is an accelerator programme funded by the CGIAR initiative on Diversification in East and Southern Africa, commonly referred to as Ukama Ustawi (UU), to support in enhancing agricultural innovation and transform food systems for sustainable futures. The Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA), which forms part of the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT (ABC), is among the CGIAR research centres providing science-based technical assistance to agribusinesses within the programme in efforts to bridge the research and development gap. CFSA provides numerous tailored innovation thematic areas to agrifood enterprises within the East and Southern Africa region, helping them scale their impact and improve nutrition.

Victoria Mwafulirwa is one of the ten agribusiness partners who form part of Cohort 2 of the CFSA programme. Homes Industries, has undergone a remarkable transformation, gaining valuable insights and tools to strengthen its business model and promote economic empowerment since joining the CFSA programme. The programme has helped Victoria identify gaps in her operations, specifically in areas of gender equality and social inclusion, nutrition, and climate-smart practices which were previously overlooked. With guidance from the accelerator, Victoria has broadened her perspective, significantly influencing how she manages her company.

Advancing Gender Inclusion and Sustainability

Since its inception in 2016, Homes Industries focused exclusively on women. However, in 2020, in response to requests from local chiefs and stakeholders, the company opened its doors to men. This shift resulted in an 80% female and 20% male demographic, with the long-term goal of achieving a balanced 50:50 recruitment strategy. Homes Industries has also made efforts to engage youth, recognizing the challenges they face, such as early marriages in rural areas.

The induction through the CFSA programme prompted Victoria Mwafulirwa to identify operational gaps in gender inclusion and other practices. Through this experience, she expanded her understanding beyond the 80:20 gender ratio, realizing that gender inclusion is not just about numbers but is essential for business sustainability. Mwafulirwa emphasized that empowering women, who often bear the household burden, is key to effective household management and community well-being.

Improving Nutrition and Expanding into Beans

Victoria Mwafulirwa is dedicated to improving the nutritional well-being of her customers. After purchasing farmers’ crops, the company processes them into various products, including peanut flour, peanut butter, brown and white rice, and a rice-based porridge that has gained popularity among adults.

Thanks to the support of the CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator (CFSA), Homes Industries has developed prototypes of shelf-stable, ready-to-eat beans. This innovation, which addresses local power challenges, is a shift from Homes Industries frozen options and reflects Victoria’s forward-thinking approach. With plans to introduce this product by the end of 2024, she is confident the Accelerator Programme will guide this venture, offering consumers more convenience and variety while promoting sustainable nutrition.

Isaac Ngwira, a restaurant manager, and loyal customer of Homes Industries’ rice products, praises the quality and timely supply of rice, which is well-graded and flavourful. His restaurant relies on five to ten kilograms of rice daily, and he is eager to see how Homes Industries’ latest offering (shelf-stable, ready-to-eat beans) will continue to support local businesses and consumers.

Embracing Climate-Smart Techniques

Homes Industries is dedicated to tackling climate change challenges through various climate-smart practices. The company encourages farmers to plant trees such as moringa, neem, and papaya, which help restore soil eroded by rain and wind. It also promotes the use of briquettes and firewood instead of charcoal, advocating for regenerative agricultural techniques.

In addition to crop cultivation, Homes Industries supports livestock farming by repurposing by-products, like sunflower cake from oil extraction, as animal feed. This approach fosters a diversified and sustainable farming ecosystem. Sustainability efforts extend to waste reduction, with practices that return peels and shells of processed crops to enrich the soil. The use of solar dryers for tomatoes minimizes spoilage, allowing excess produce to be preserved for future use or sale, significantly boosting profitability.

The CFSA backed introduction of shelf-stable beans further aligns with these sustainability goals, as it addresses environmental degradation and responds to the need for climate-smart technologies.

A Vision for the Future

Victoria Mwafulirwa envisions a future where Homes Industries’ impact extends beyond its current scope. She dreams of establishing a central hub integrating all operations—from crop production to value-addition through processing—creating a model that can be replicated across Malawi. Her vision emphasizes a holistic approach that considers the economic, social, and environmental impact of the business on both farmers and consumers.

As part of this vision, Homes Industries is committed to biofortification, ensuring its products are rich in essential vitamins and minerals. For instance, their porridge is fortified with vitamin A using orange maize, a nutrient-dense corn variety and the ready-to-eat beans will be formulated from high iron beans. This focus on providing balanced, nutritious food for local and international markets aligns with Victoria’s broader goal of combating malnutrition and promoting health through agriculture.

Reflecting on the future, Victoria remains optimistic: “While we focus on economic empowerment, we must also consider the effects that processed foods have on consumers. I am excited about the potential impact of our initiatives on farmers and communities, and I am committed to expanding our understanding of sustainable agricultural practices.”

Conclusion

Homes Industries’ journey exemplifies a transformative impact on both the company and the communities it serves. Through its collaboration with PABRA and the CFSA programme, the company has adopted a multifaceted approach that prioritizes gender inclusion, climate-smart agriculture, and nutrition-sensitive practices. Victoria Mwafulirwa is leading efforts to enhance economic empowerment and improve nutrition in Malawi. As Homes Industries continues to grow, its unwavering commitment to uplifting smallholder farmers through these key areas positions it as a vital player in transforming the agricultural landscape and shaping the future of food systems in the region.