How to break free from NPK? Farmer communities in Malawi preparing Mbeya & Biofertilizer

CONTEXT
Soil fertility is the most valuable capital of every smallholder farmer, especially in Malawi, where over 80% of the population depends on the yield of their land.
In recent years, this fertility — and thus yields — has been stagnating or declining due to effects of climate change like droughts, floods and heat. Another reason is the contamination with heavy metals or other pollutants (that many chemical fertilizers contain), which resulted in the disappearance of soil microbes. These microbes, who feed on soil organic matter, act like a sponge and buffer medium, and, often overlooked, mobilize plant nutrients. Inadequate application of fertilizers and pesticides also caused environmental harm, like pollution of water bodies.

The degradation of soils took place during decades and lead to the loss of soil organic matter, the most decisive indicator for resilience against climate change (mostly droughts), but also diseases and pests.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
Mbeya fertilizer, a mixture of organic amendments like manure, husks (mostly of maize or rice), wood ash and a reduced amount of mineral fertilizer has been a very helpful transitional tool for many smallholder farming communities in Malawi to gradually reduce the dependence on chemical fertilizers like NPK and Urea. After two to three years of application, soil organic matter as well as microbial diversity can be slowly reestablished. After that, mineral fertilizers can be eliminated completely.
Furthermore, biofertilizers, which are exclusively organic, can be prepared with locally available resources like fresh livestock manure and urine, crushed charcoal, sugarcane molasses and nutritious plant leaves that are rich in nutrients (like Moringa or Mexican sunflower). If mixed well and fermented in a drum for 30 days, useful microorganisms can multiply in it, which then are applied in a diluted solution with a sprayer or watering can on a big size of land. Foliar application of biofertilizers not only boost plant health and performance, but also inoculate the surrounding soil with diverse microbes. To enhance the effectiveness of biofertilizers, soils should always be covered (mulched) with organic materials (e. g. from tree prunings, maize stalks or grasses).
Step by step, smallholder farming communities can regain their food sovereignty and restore agroecosystems.

Read more in our recently published Policy Brief on Fertilizers: https://www.cardmalawi.org/dashboard/...

or visit
www.cardmalawi.org for more information.