Thriving Against the Odds: Enhancing Women’s Resilience to disasters through Solar-Powered Irrigation

In the rural communities of Mwambo and Ngwelero in Zomba, Malawi, climate challenges like floods and El Niño weather conditions have taken a heavy toll on families. With most people relying on small-scale farming, women and girls have endured the most of these hardships, struggling to feed their families amidst crop failures and food shortages. The Australian Government funded Women’s Resilience to Disaster (WRD) Programme, implemented by Care International through UN Women, is making a difference by introducing irrigation schemes in disaster-prone areas.

For years, women farmers in Zomba depended on rain-fed agriculture to grow food and earn a living. But when the 2023-2024 El Niño brought erratic rainfall, crops withered, and families faced difficult choices—sell their livestock or go without food. The situation was even more critical for single mothers and elderly women with few resources to fall back on, something needed to change.

Through the Women Resilience to Disaster Programme, five irrigation schemes were established spanning more than sixty hectares in five areas in Zomba. The initiative provides solar-powered irrigation technology, biofortified maize seeds for planting, and a variety of improved vegetables to six hundred women. The introduction of solar-powered irrigation has been a game-changer for these communities as the technology is helping communities withstand droughts and other climate shocks, securing sustainable farming and reliable livelihoods. Training workshops also equipped these women with climate-smart agricultural skills, water management techniques, and market engagement strategies to increase their income. Resulting in a transformative approach to farming that is boosting food security and reshaping lives. 

At 58, Susan Zakeyu, a mother of seven, was facing bleak prospects after the El Niño left her fields barren. Joining the Namachiloni irrigation scheme in 2023 marked a turning point in her life. With solar-powered irrigation, she began cultivating tomatoes, maize, and leafy greens. Within one season, her yields surged, and selling surplus produce earned her MK260,000 ($148) a month. With this income, she sent her children to school and ventured into other small businesses. “I am happy that my children can now eat everyday before going to school, thanks to the solar pump, I have been able to grow maize and make extra income after selling the fresh green maize” says Susan. Now, Susan mentors’ other women, championing eco-friendly and sustainable farming practices. Women who received 2 kg of maize seed are now harvesting between 300 and 500 kg each, a remarkable turnaround from the near crop failures of the previous year. This boost in yield is ensuring that families will have enough food to last until February 2025.

The Women’s Resilience to Disaster Programme has not only empowered women in Zomba, Blantyre and Phalombe to overcome food insecurity but also fostered a culture of sustainable farming that benefits entire communities. With women like Susan leading the way, these initiatives are proving that with the right support, rural women can transform their lives and those of their families. WRD stands as a testament to the power of women-led solutions in driving sustainable development and climate resilience.