The Rural Women Assembly (RWA) in Malawi provides training on Mbeya and Chinkhuzi, two locally produced fertilizers. Responding to feminist agroecology, an agricultural system that integrates ecological principles with social justice, gender equality, and women\’s empowerment.
According to Alice Kachere, the chairperson of the Rural Women Assembly Malawi chapter, women are being trained in many areas of Feminist agroecology, which is a method to agriculture that incorporates ecological principles, in an interview. She went on to say that RWA focuses on several areas of feminist agroecology.
“We are educating rural women around the country how to make chinkhuzi and Mbeya fertilizer, which is cheaper and more reliable because the materials required are locally available, as one approach to enhancing food production and knowledge.,” said Kachere.
She went on to say that feminist agroecology recognizes agriculture\’s gendered components and works to challenge patriarchal structures and achieve gender equality. Rural women\’s participation in agroecology helps them to challenge traditional gender norms, gain decision-making power, and get more equitable access to resources such as land, water, credit, and technology.
Meanwhile, Traditional Authority Mabvele, who participated in the training in his area, feels that women must be vigilant in order to overcome the myriad challenges they confront in their homes on a daily basis. He claims that women who use this kind of fertilizer generation would benefit greatly because chemical fertilizers are now unreasonably expensive.
\” Women have several obstacles, and as leaders, we hear many concerns from members of our community; hence, this program will not only increase awareness among women, but it will also encourage them to be self-sufficient.\” Mabvele explained.
Meanwhile, Catherin Simkeleya, from Kalumbu in Lilongwe, claimed that members were unaware that they could create these types of fertilizers at home. She went on to say that, while chemical fertilizers are currently expensive, training is advantageous to smallholder farmers because their capital levels leave much to be desired in terms of fertilizer expenses.
\” We have no reason to complain because we will be using locally available resources. As a result, this training has not only helped us gain knowledge but has also empowered us as women.\” Simkeleya said.
Rural women\’s contributions to feminist agroecology are numerous, ranging from food production and biodiversity conservation to social empowerment and climatic resilience. Recognizing and supporting their agency and rights is crucial for establishing a more equitable and sustainable agricultural system.
