Sustainable Farming: Relieve Hunger in East Africa

Our teams in Malawi and Kenya have been busy training new farmers while helping experienced ones put their extra biochar to good use in value-added activities.

This past quarter, we trained over 4,000 farmers, half in Malawi and half in Kenya. With fertilizer prices continuing to rise in both countries, demand for biochar training has surged.

We expanded into additional villages across the districts and counties where our trainers are based, through both our Warm Heart leads and invitations from local organizations. As in previous seasons, two-thirds (67%) of trainees were women,  eager to improve soil health and strengthen their family livelihoods.

In Malawi, we continued our partnership with the Catholic Development Commission (CADECOM) in Zomba to support biochar training in nearby villages. CADECOM covers training expenses, while our team provides coaching for their trainers.

Last week’s session brought together 83 participants, who learned both trench and barrel (TLUD) methods.

Each participating village received two TLUD units to begin its own production. Corn cobs perform especially well in TLUDs, while corn stalks are better suited for trenches. This round of training reached four new villages, building local capacity for sustainable biochar production.

In the DRC, training continues in areas outside the conflict zones. The team recently secured an affordable piece of land to start a cocoa farm, where biochar is already being used to improve soil structure and water retention. The site will also serve as a demonstration and training center for nearby farmers.

Our Black Soldier Fly (BSF) pilots are also advancing. In Kenya, BSFs are reproducing well, and the team has begun a chicken feeding trial to test feed cost savings and bird health improvements.

In Malawi, BSF production faced a temporary setback but is back on track. The team is now working with local chicken producers to identify healthy birds for our first micro-lending pilot with chickens.

Although we have a growing waiting list of villages for biochar training, we are also dedicating part of our limited funds to design a follow-up survey to measure biochar adoption and outcomes.

Our last survey in 2021, based on about 1,000 farmers, showed an impressive 89% adoption rate for the trench method.

The TLUD barrel, however, proved too costly for most farmers, a finding that has shaped how we tailor future training and technology support.

We’ll keep you updated on our progress.  There is such a large need to reduce hunger and protect our environment. Thank you for making it possible!

With best wishes for the months ahead,

Dana, Michael, Evelind, and the East Africa Biochar

This quarter, we’ve taken an exciting step forward by expanding our biochar training to include small business development. As farmers improve their soil and increase yields using biochar, we’re helping them explore new ways to generate income, starting with sustainable poultry farming and insect-based feed production.

In Kenya and Malawi, our teams are piloting Black Soldier Fly farming as a low-cost, high-protein chicken feed that also enriches compost. With this secure feed source, farmers can begin raising chickens and gradually build up flocks. In Zomba, Malawi, 20 farmers attended our first chicken business training, led by the Department of Agriculture, and covered in the local newspaper.

In Malawi, we trained over 130 farmers in Mpheta village (T/A Lamosi), with additional sessions for participants from Magoli and Kathebwe villages. In the DRC, our team was invited to Université Abbé Malumalu to introduce biochar production to agriculture students—planting seeds for broader impact as students bring knowledge back to their home communities.

Last year, we launched our first savings circles in Kenya, Malawi, and the  DRC. Participants have embraced them as a practical way to set aside funds for essential needs. Building on this momentum, we are working on plans to expand into a small-scale micro-lending program to help farmers invest in chicken coops and Black Soldier Fly “love cages,” enabling them to grow new income-generating ventures.

We’re deeply grateful for your generosity—it’s making a real difference in the lives of the farmers we work with every day. You make this all possible!

Best wishes for a safe and joyful summer ahead!

Dana, Michael, Evelind and the East  Africa Biochar Team