COMSIP Farm Input Project Excites Communities in Kasungu, Dowa

Communities in Dowa and Kasungu districts have lauded the Legume Enterprise Structure Programme (LESP) introduced by the Livelihoods Support Programme under COMSIP Cooperative Union Limited.

The program, which requires participants to contribute 30% of the cost of farm inputs while the rest is subsidized by COMSIP, has enabled beneficiaries to achieve food security and start small-scale businesses using profits from surplus produce.

During a media tour organized by COMSIP on Monday, participants shared their success stories.

Increased Yields and Economic Benefits

Eluby Phiri, a farmer from Masaka Cluster in Kasungu, highlighted her improved harvest of 22 bags of maize (50 kg each) from one acre last season.

“After selling the surplus, I managed to support my son’s education with fees and other school needs. This season, I expect even better yields with the farm inputs I have purchased through the program,” she said.

Grace Chombo, a community facilitator in T/A Wimbe, Kasungu, noted the project’s role in enabling farmers to access certified seeds and other quality inputs.

“In the past, we couldn’t afford sufficient inputs. Now, we buy according to the size of our farmland,” she added.

Rebecca Munthali, a COMSIP caseworker in Dowa under T/A Dzoole, emphasized the program’s transformative impact.

“Households have increased profits from surplus sales, allowing them to set up group businesses, invest in livestock, and purchase family assets,” she explained.

Poverty Alleviation and Climate-Smart Practices

Gremison Kachikonga, Chairperson of Khwema Cluster in Dowa, said the project helps farmers scale their input purchases based on farm size. Kasungu District COMSIP Coordinator, Christina Josiya, noted the program’s broader impacts on poverty alleviation and food security.

“Households are building homes, paying school fees, and acquiring livestock. The program also supports climate-smart agriculture practices, such as producing and using Mbeya manure to enhance soil fertility and moisture retention,” Josiya said.

Significant Investment and Wide Reach

COMSIP has invested K2.6 billion in LESP for the current farming season, supporting 844 savings and loan groups and cooperatives and benefiting 27,321 households across 15 districts. Of these, 17,376 beneficiaries are women. The program, funded by the World Bank and Social Protection Multi-Donor Fund under Malawi’s Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project (SSRLP), also targets social cash transfer and public works program households.

Market Access and Future Prospects

To ensure fair pricing for farmers’ produce, COMSIP plans to serve as the offtaker and identify additional markets for the program’s participants. Farmers in the southern region have already started procuring inputs for the season.

Through LESP, COMSIP aims to enhance food security, boost incomes, and transform livelihoods across Malawi’s rural communities.