PARTAKE Workshop in Malawi
PARTAKE Africa held a hybrid workshop on August 8-9, 2024, at the Soils, Food and Healthy Communities (SFHC), Malawi. Ms Lupafya hosted the event while Drs Luginaah and Bezner Kerr from Western and Cornell universities facilitated the in-person and online conversations.
These participatory engagements opened up spaces for the Malawian smallholder farmer researchers to exchange knowledge and experiences with Western and African scientists and community development experts from Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia and Canada. They included community experts: Ms Kabongo, the ReSCOPE Programme, Zambia, Ms N’gang’a, Research, Community and Organizational Development Associates (RECODA), Tanzania, and Mr Shema, Wildlife Conservation Initiative (WCI), Rwanda, along with scientists: Dr Dusenge, the Mount Alision University, Canada/the Australian National University, Australia, Dr Mnthambala, Mzuzu University, Malawi, Dr Mollay, the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), Tanzania and Dr Rahman, Western University.
Drawing on their decades-long agroecological research and knowledge mobilization practices and farmers’ lived experiences, workshop participants discussed how gender transformative agroecological practices can be used to enhance the smallholder farming community resilience against climate change. Unlike unsustainable, synthetic input-based practices, agroecology can improve food security, health and wellbeing, reduce post-harvest food loss, enhance environmental sustainability and achieve gender, intergenerational, and socio-economic equities.
The photo-deck below provides a snapshot of how the interactive workshop unfolded allowing intensive conversations to shape PARTAKE Africa’s plan for gender-transformative agroecological research, knowledge mobilization and policymaking initiatives.
Workshop participants from Canada, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia are at the Soils, Food and Healthy Community’s (SFHC) Training Centre courtyard in Ekwendeni, Malawi. Participants from Canada, Germany, and USA joined them in a hybrid session on Zoom (not shown).
Dr Isaac Luginaah (left), PARTAKE Africa’s project director and Esther Lupafya (right), SFHC’s Director stressed the importance of adaptability and resilience against climate change.
Dr Mirindi Eric Dusenge (left), with farmers Aaron Moyo (middle) and Julius Thindwa (right), shared how collaborative research with farmer researchers might help finding climate adaptive crops and crop varieties in Malawi and Rwanda.
Anita Chitaya, a smallholder farmer trainer described how gender relations challenges women in homes and communities.
Julius Thindwa, a smallholder farmer trainer explained the challenges they face due to climate change, including drought and heat stress in their smallholder farming community.
Lizzie Shumba, Agriculture and Nutrition Coordinator, SFHC, (with Leah Mtumbuka, a LUANAR University intern on the right) shared her enriched experiences and translated the conversation from English to Tumbuka to English, allowing an inclusive participation.
Dr Clara Mollay from Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Tanzania discussed how farmers might be able to prevent post harvest food loss.
Dr Frank Mnthambala, Head of Agri sciences Department, Mzuzu University, Malawi shared their collaborative research with smallholder farmers at SFHC, examining soil and crop health to address food insecurity.
Josephine N’gang’a, Executive Director of Research, Community and Organizational Development Associates, Tanzania (with Mwapi Mkandawire, SFHC and Serge Shema, WCI, Rwanda on her right) gave many practical examples including how farmers can test crop moisture using easily available table salt and crop in a glass bottle to ensure preventing wastage during storage.
Participants engaged in interactive group discussions co-facilitated by Drs Isaac Luginaah, Mirindi Eric Dusenge and Clara Mollay (left-side group) and Esther Lupafya, Charity Kabongo, Josephine N’gang’a, and Serge Shema (right-side group).
After the day-long interactive discussions and exchanges, farmer researchers* marked the making and strengthening of an exciting global agroecological research partnership. *Front row, left to right: Esther Maona, Paul Nkhonjera, Aaron Moyo, Haswell Nelson. Second row, left to right: Leah Mtumbuka (a LUANAR University intern), Mwapi Mkandawire, Julius Thindwa, Anita Chitaya, Enala Kasambala, Pressings Moyo, Rodgers Msachi, Christina Hara.
