The importance of organic farming

Malawi, a beautiful country in Central Africa, steeped in natural beauty but unfortunately also one of the poorest countries in the world. Here in Malawi, as much as 80% of the population is dependent on subsistent farming, growing their own food. This means that agriculture is not only an essential part of daily life, but is also critical to the economic well-being of the country as a whole.

However, despite the fact that agriculture is such an integral part of Malawian society, many of the traditional practices that are used, such as burning the left-over vegetation on the land as well as the extended use of fertiliser and pesticides, are harmful to the environment and the survival of the farmers themselves. The habit of 'fire on the land', embedded in tradition, has led to deforestation and a significant loss of biodiversity in the country.

This is where Miracle Tree comes into the picture. As a social enterprise in Malawi, our mission is to change not only how farmers farm their land, but also how they look at agriculture. We believe in sustainable, organic farming as the way to a better future for Malawi.

In the video for this blog, you can see the land of a local farmer. Here you can an illustration of the harmful impact of traditional practices such as burning vegetation. This practice not only destroys biodiversity, but also has serious consequences for soil fertility. The result is a vicious cycle of decline, with soils becoming less fertile and farmers becoming increasingly dependent on artificial, imported fertilisers to keep their crops growing.

But there is hope. Through education and inspiration, we want to teach farmers that there is a better way. Instead of burning vegetation, they should use it to make organic compost. This is not only to maintain soil fertility, but also to restore the country's natural balance and biodiversity.

Why is this so important? First, from an economic perspective, farmers can save significant costs by switching to organic farming methods. Currently, many farmers between 30 to 50 percent of their annual income on fertilisers. By switching to organic compost, they can eliminate this cost and increase their profits.

But the importance of sustainable agriculture reaches beyond economic considerations. It is also essential to preserve the environment and the well-being of future generations. By restoring and preserving natural ecosystems, we can help Malawi develop sustainably and offer hope to both people and the country itself.

In Genesis 2:15 we are told to take care of the land, and then the land will take care of us. This ancient wisdom is still relevant today and by working with nature rather than against it, we can create a future where both people and the land thrive.

Malawi needs organic agriculture, not just for today, but also for generations to come.