Lucia Kanyoza and her husband from Chibvala Extension Planning Area in Dowa district, planted amaranth seed on 3 standard beds in their garden and they were amazed by the income they realised from the sales. With little effort, they managed to harvest twice a week in a period of five weeks. Every time Lucia takes her vegetable to the market for sale, she brings home between MwK3,500 and MwK 3,700. This is a much higher profit compared to earnings from the same volume of other vegetables she also sells. The money is used to buy food and other basic necessities for the household. Since the activities were done as a family, it has helped Lucia to have access and control over the household resources.
Lucia was quoted as saying ‘taphunzira kugwira ntchito limodzi ngati banja,’ meaning ‘Me and my husband have realised the goodness of planning together. This has reduced gender based violence (GBV) in our household as there is greater harmony, and well being in the family.”
The family of Mr and Mrs Kazinga are now a role model in the fight against gender and domestic violence in their community because of the benefits they have realised from the access and control of the resources they get from farming proceedings.
- This case study was prepared as part of the Gallery Exhibition to commemorate the visit of the President of the Republic of Ireland, His Excellency Michael D Higgins to Malawi in November 2014, and later to coincide with the launch of the 16 Days of Activism against GBV on November the 25th, 2014.
- Pictures taken by: Chipiliro Khonje.