Category Archives: Business

The Maravi Post is a leading source for reliable Business news and analysis on Business. Top African Business like  Dangote  Group in Nigeria, Mulli Brothers in Malawi

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Business

Mthunzi Funeral Services aids MK1million towards National Trauma Consultative Forum

Maravi Post Reporter

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Old Mutual’s Mthunzi Funeral Services on Friday, donated MK1 million towards National Trauma Consultative Forum.

The meeting which has been organised by Ministry of health and Malawi Orthopedic Association is slated for organised the meeting for November 15 to 16, 2023 in the capital Lilongwe.

This year’s forum will revolve around the theme “Rethinking and Creating a Dynamic Trauma and Orthopaedic System: A Move Towards a Priority in Public Health and Socio-Economic Agenda.”

After making the donation, Mthunzi Funeral Services Company General Manager Onisimas Karakadzai observes that the meeting’s theme underscores the need to prioritize and handle this public health issue with utmost urgency.

Karakadzai said importance of trauma care and the role of orthopedic services in the society cannot be overstated.

“As a business, the incoming forum gives us immense pleasure as it is expected to gather important stakeholders who will share notes and come up with fitting strategies to help address a critical aspect of public health in our country

“You will agree with me that we are living in a world where accidents and injuries are, unfortunately, a part of everyday life, and, therefore, imperative that we have a robust and dynamic trauma and orthopedic system in place, he said.

Karakadzai adds, “This system is not just about healing the physical wounds of our citizens; it’s about mending the fabric of our society, enabling individuals to lead healthy, productive lives, and contributing to the overall development of our nation.

“It is against that background, that as a responsible business, Mthunzi Funeral Services Company, your trusted comforter is collaborating with the Ministry of Health and the Malawi Orthopaedic Association by making this financial contribution to help in organizing this important event”.

He explained further, “We commend the Ministry of Health, and the Malawi Orthopaedic Association for their dedication to improving trauma care and orthopaedic services in our country. Mthunzi Funeral Services, as a business that is concerned with the welfare of our society and driven by the desire to impact communities, will continue to work with you until our desired goal is reached.

“We strongly believe that our collaboration will greatly translate to improved health service delivery and thereby, contribute to the social-economic development of our country

“Let me reiterate our commitment to this course because we believe in our minds that the outcomes of this forum will not only shape the future of trauma care and orthopedics in Malawi but also contribute to the well-being of our entire society”.

Malawi Orthopedic Association President Maureen Sabawo lauded the firm for the timely support.

Business

PIL oils Zomba Press Club AGM

Maravi Post Reporter

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Petroleum Importers Limited (PIL) has committed MK500,000 towards the Zomba Press Club Annual General Meeting (AGM) set for December 9, 2023 in Salima.

Speaking during the cheque handover ceremony in Blantyre on Wednesday, PIL General Manager, Martin Msimuko said the company appreciates the crucial role of journalists in democracy by providing information, holding those in power accountable, and fostering an informed and engaged citizenry.

“The press faces numerous challenges in today’s world, from declining revenues to threats to journalistic independence. As part of our corporate social responsibility, PIL has plans to reach out to areas of health, education, and safety, and from time to time we respond to national needs when we have disasters for example. However, budget permitting we do respond to specific needs in the society as we have done with the media today.”

“By donating to the Zomba Press Club, we believe we are supporting the vital work of journalists and media organizations. It allows them to continue their investigative reporting, which uncovers corruption, abuse of power, and social injustices. It enables the press to inform the public about critical issues, from climate change to public health crises, helping us make informed decisions,” said Msimuko.

He also asked for more coverage of the dangers that come to our society through improper handling of fuel products.

“Fuel products must be handled specially so that we avoid the unfortunate events that have been taking place within the country where people have lost their lives from fuel-induced fires.  Fuel oil is hazardous and that is why our customers Puma, Total Energies, Petroda, and Vivo are better placed to handle the products and would encourage society to access fuel from their authorized retail outlets, in this case, you will be assured of the quality of the fuel that you will be using,” he said.

Zomba Press Club president Titus Linzie commended PIL for the support.

“PIL realizes the importance of working with the media in disseminating information to the public. This support will go a long way in ensuring the success of our meeting. As media, we have a role to play in sensitizing the public on the dangers of keeping fuel in their homes. The public trusts our words and we will ensure we spread the message,” said Linzie.

PIL is a consortium of four oil marketing companies namely Puma Energy Ltd, Petroda Malawi Ltd, Total Energies, and Vivo Energy Malawi.

Business

TNM’s MaHape outdoor shines at Marketers Award

Maravi Post Reporter

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi’s pioneering mobile network and ICT services provider, TNM Plc scooped the best Commercial of the Year Outdoor Award for its Mahape thematic campaign during the 2023 Institute of Marketers in Malawi (IMM) awards gala.

The award-winning ideas is the depiction of a busy woman making a call while her GSM handset is strapped to her head with a rubber hand. The creative sends the message about the power of TNM’s services and products to create happiness and memorable moments. The overall Mahape campaign was created by FD Communications Ltd for their client, TNM Plc.

TNM Head of Brand and Marketing Madalitso Jonazi said the recognition highlights the telco’s overall purpose of creating value that emanates from a deep understanding of human cravings in the tech-driven world: genuine happiness and connection driven by utility.

“We are delighted that one of our Mahape executions earned this great recognition by IMM. This creative artwork showcased the happiness we create by providing a network to make connect people and business, “said Madalitso Jonazi, TNM’s Head of Brand and Marketing.

Jonazi said Mahape was an all-encompassing campaign as it was brought to life across different media platforms, in addition to the award-winning outdoor execution.

“By depicting scenes of shared joy in the Mahape campaign, we made the audience feel a deep sense of connection and nostalgia, reinforcing the theme of happiness as a unifying force. This campaign’s knack for sparking engagement, forging brand love, and delivering real results seals its victory as the ultimate champion,” he said.

Presenting the awards, Chief Judge of the 2023 Marketers Excellence Awards, Enwell Kadango said that the awards celebrate brands and individuals for their outstanding works in the marketing sphere.

“Today all nominated brands and individuals are winners for they have done great works in the industry. However, tonight we are here to hand out 21 exceptional accolades to those that stood out the most,” said Kadango.

Reiterating the need for the awards, Isabel Kachinjika President of Institute for Marketers in Malawi said the recognitions help organizations delivery delightful services to their clients.

“These awards celebrate innovation, creativity, and strategic prowess. They recognise those who have broken through barriers, propelling their businesses and our economy forward,” said Kachinjika.

Business

NBS Bank, FAM hands over Cyclone survivors’ homes

Maravi Post Reporter

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-NBS Bank plc in conjunction with the Football Association of Malawi (FAM), and the Malawi Red Cross Society, has officially handed over four houses to families who were displaced by Tropical Cyclone Freddy in March in Ntauchira Village, Chiradzulu.

The houses were built using the funds realized from the Charity Shield match between Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Wanderers played in April this year, as well as from the Flames Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Egypt, which was played at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.

At the handover ceremony in Masikini Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Likoswe, Temwani Simwaka, NBS Bank’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, stated that as a ‘Caring Bank’ and a Malawian institution, they were overjoyed to be a part of the life-changing endeavour for the impacted families and that the homes will make a significant difference in their lives.

“As a Bank, we always value every life because we rely on them as clients. As part of our corporate social responsibility, we decided to come in by partnering with FAM to bring a significant change to our friends, and we hope that these houses stand as a great starting point for their lives,” she explained.

FAM president Walter Nyamilandu Manda expressed excitement about fulfilling the promise that the association made to the public and the affected families.

“These families had been through a terrible time, and they desperately needed our help as Malawians. As the FA, we are very proud that we have been able to help them afford a smile.”

“We understand that what we have provided to them is insufficient to bring back their relatives who died during the tragedy, but we planned to ensure that we give them a place like a house, which we have just fulfilled,” he said.

Malawi Red Cross Society’s acting Head of Disaster Management, Cecilia Banda, praised FAM and NBS Bank for acting as goodwill ambassadors in supporting the affected people, saying the institutions demonstrated true love to the victims

Margaret Makawa, 40, who lost her husband in the disaster, expressed her thanks for the home, saying it came at a time when she had nowhere to live with her five children.

Business, Sports

NBM powers University games with MK3.5 million

Maravi Post Reporter

 

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-National Bank of Malawi Plc (NBM) has boosted the morale of the Tertiary Education Students Sports Association of Malawi (TESSAM) 2023 games with a donation of MK3.5 million. 

Students from about 20 tertiary institutions in the country will converge in Lilongwe this weekend for various sports activities including football, volleyball, tennis, netball, and others.

NBM Projects Manager Chimwemwe Lipato presented the cheque to TESSAM officials on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, where he said the Bank believes that giving the youth a platform to develop skills through sports helps the country’s development.  

“National Bank believes that the youth have a big role to play, and we are not just a financial Institution but part of the Malawian community.

“Giving the youth a platform to develop their skills will allow them to maximize and realize their potential from a sports perspective, but overall, it will give them a platform for mental stimulation and their contribution to this country,” said Lipato.

TESSAM technical member, Victor Chikoti thanked National Bank for always being a true partner.

“The Different Universities participating in these games get funding from their institutions but it is not adequate. There are usually cases where we come to the grounds and still need a hand. We knew we had a gap and needed a partner. We could not think of any other way but to go to National Bank as a trusted partner that has invested a lot, especially in uplifting the standards of education in Malawi.”

“So, they were kind enough and indeed very faithful to their promise to come in and say they would not allow students at the national level to come together in these different sporting codes without the Bank featuring at that particular stage, for that, we appreciate this type of support,” said Chikoti.

The annual sports festival will also be used to identify champions in various disciplines that will represent the country at the Confederation of Universities and Colleges Sports Association (CUCSA) tournament in South Africa next year. 

AMA, Business

Dubai’s rise in global trade and the new face of globalisation

MaraviPost

By: His Excellency Abdul Aziz Abdulla Al Ghurair, Chairman of Dubai Chambers

LAGOS, Nigeria 31 October 2023 -/African Media Agency (AMA)/- Over the past few decades, globalisation has transformed economies and made our world more interconnected than ever before. Here, His Excellency Abdul Aziz Abdulla Al Ghurair, Chairman of Dubai Chambers, reflects on the state of globalisation in 2023 and explores the role of Dubai as a global gateway for trade. 

For a time, globalisation felt like an unstoppable force. Fuelled by advances in technology and the increased mobility of goods and labour, our economies grew closer, and our societies became more connected. 

Today, the effects of the pandemic period, ongoing geopolitical issues, and persistent inflation are all making their mark on our global economic system. It is clear that the face of globalisation is changing, resulting in a shift towards ‘deglobalisation’ and the formation of new regionalised economic blocs. 

The impact of ‘nearshoring’ and ‘friend shoring’

In response to increased volatility in our global markets, nations have begun to look inward and prioritise bilateral trade agreements – most often with neighbouring or nearby countries that share similar values or participate in the same trade pacts. These practices, referred to as ‘friend shoring’ and ‘nearshoring,’ have been on the rise in our increasingly fragmented world.  

On the face of it, this trend could be seen as a step backwards. Aren’t we stronger as a global community? Shouldn’t we form ties with as many economies as possible? Nations which favour friend shoring would argue that it can add greater resilience to supply chains, increase economic opportunity, and lower risk. 

However, given that global trade volumes are growing – albeit at a moderate pace – Dubai’s economy can continue to benefit from the new face of globalisation by leveraging its location at the crossroads of Asia, Europe, and Africa, as well as capitalising on the strong growth in foreign investments in the emirate. 

Embracing globalisation helped to establish Dubai as a leading global hub for trade and commerce in just a few decades. Today, the emirate is set to further strengthen its international ties as part of the drive to double the size of its economy over the next 10 years.

Expanding Dubai’s global reach 

Earlier this year, the Dubai Government launched the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which aims to double the size of the emirate’s economy by 2033 through 100 transformational projects. 

These projects will advance Dubai’s plans for green and sustainable manufacturing, add 400 cities to Dubai’s foreign trade map, open economic corridors with Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia – and much more besides. The landmark roadmap aims to promote export growth and sustainable economic expansion, as well as establish Dubai as one of the world’s top three global cities, top five leading logistic hubs, and top four global financial centres.

One way to ensure Dubai’s position as a worldwide gateway for business and trade is by pursuing continued global expansion.

In 2022, the Dubai government launched ‘Dubai Global.’ Spearheaded by Dubai International Chamber – one of the three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers – the initiative is designed to support the emirate’s long-term economic goals and aims to establish a powerful network of 50 integrated representative offices in five continents by the end of the decade. 

Currently, we operate 25 international offices in Asia, Latin America, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East – 10 of which opened this year. Through this network, we are accelerating towards the D33 targets of increasing Dubai’s FDI to over AED 650 billion over the coming 10 years and boosting foreign trade in goods and services to AED 25.6 trillion, while strengthening bilateral trade and supporting the international growth of Dubai companies. 

Next month, Dubai Chambers will host the Dubai Business Forum, which will gather key public and private stakeholders from across the globe for a transformational two-day programme of networking and dealmaking. The event creates a perfect opportunity for the Dubai business community to connect with international organisations from near and far, supporting the emirate’s regional and global ambitions. 

In the years to come, our global economy will continue to shift and restructure itself in response to market volatility. But by remaining agile and open to opportunities on all fronts, Dubai will continue to lead the world as a hub for innovation, international trade, and tech-driven enterprise.  

To learn more about the Dubai Business Forum, head to dubaibusinessforum.com 

Distributed by African Media Agency on behalf of Dubai Chambers.

Dubai Chambers is a non-profit public entity that supports Dubai’s vision as a global player by empowering businesses, providing innovative value-added services and access to influential networks. In March 2021, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced the restructuring of Dubai Chamber and the formation of three chambers for the emirate, namely, Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Dubai International Chamber, and Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, which now operate under Dubai Chambers. For more information, please visit us on: 

www.dubaichambers.com 

Follow us on: 

www.facebook.com/DxbChambers

www.twitter.com/dubaichambers

www.linkedin.com/company/dubai-chambers

www.youtube.com/DubaiChamberTV

www.instagram.com/dubaichambers

For more information, please contact:

Mohamad Mouzehem

PR & Corporate Communications

Tel: +971 4 2028537

Email: mohamad.mouzehem@dubaichamber.com 

The post Dubai’s rise in global trade and the new face of globalisation appeared first on African Media Agency.

Source : African Media Agency (AMA)

AMA, Business

How foreign direct investments are strengthening Dubai’s economy

MaraviPost

By: Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers 

LAGOS, Nigeria 31 October 2023 -/African Media Agency (AMA)/- Here, Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, explores global trends in foreign direct investments (FDI) and highlights Dubai’s role as an international FDI leader.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) projects are key to Dubai’s economic ambitions. These cross-border investments fuel growth through capital accumulation, create valuable jobs, increase productivity, and enable access to cutting-edge emerging technologies. 

Across the world, Dubai is seen as an ideal location for FDI projects, and these flourishing enterprises are now supporting homegrown talent and attracting new workers into the emirate. At Dubai Chambers, we are building on this success by securing even more FDI projects and catalysing a dynamic investment environment across the emirate. 

The global FDI landscape 

Over the past few years, global FDI has been heavily impacted by uncertainty across markets and fragmented global trade. Geopolitical disruptions and high food and energy prices have also made sustaining FDI a real challenge for many countries. These challenges, which have been felt most keenly in developing nations, can only be addressed effectively through concerted, collaborative efforts from the global community. 

Despite global challenges, Dubai has emerged as a world leader in FDI. In 2023, Dubai’s Financial Market reached its highest point in eight years, and the emirate’s economic resilience has been a real draw for international investors. Dubai’s strategic location – with proximity to major trade routes – favourable tax incentives, and strong economic policies have also positioned the emirate as an attractive market for FDI inflows and economic growth. 

Dubai’s FDI success 

One of the central aims of Dubai Chambers is to increase FDI into the emirate. We’ve made strong progress in recent years, with Dubai achieving an 80% increase in FDI inflows between 2021 and 2022. 

We were also proud to see Dubai ranked as the top global destination for attracting greenfield FDI projects in the most recent edition of the Financial Times’ ‘fDi Markets’ data, which indicated that the emirate attracted 511 greenfield projects in H1 2023. The data also highlighted that Dubai’s global share in the attraction of greenfield FDI projects rose to 6.58% during the first half of 2023 – up from 3.83% during the same period in 2022. 

The most recent data released by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism’s (DET) FDI monitor also confirms extremely healthy FDI growth. The city of Dubai announced 880 FDI projects between January and June 2023, representing year-on-year growth of 70%.

By ensuring that Dubai maintains its status as a major hub for FDI, we are supporting the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which aims to double the size of the emirate’s economy over the coming decade. A healthy FDI ecosystem encourages economic diversification and promotes innovation. It also leads to significant job creation – it has been estimated that FDI projects have created 5,212 business services jobs, 3,525 IT and software jobs, and 3,090 food and beverage jobs in H1 2023 alone. 

Exploring Dubai’s FDI future

Next month, Dubai Chambers is hosting the Dubai Business Forum in Madinat Jumeirah. Aimed at global corporations, visionary leaders, and fast-growth businesses, this must-attend event creates a perfect opportunity for the global business community to forge partnerships, cultivate international networks, and unlock new opportunities. During the event, participants will be able to learn more about the future of FDI in Dubai and gain valuable insights from heads of state, policymakers, and industry experts. 

The event will also feature ‘The Deals Hub,’ a dedicated space for businesses to forge partnerships and announce new initiatives, investments, and commercial alliances. This innovative platform reflects Dubai Chambers’ commitment to driving growth in international trade and investment and is set to further cement the emirate’s position as a global leader in FDI. 

To learn more about the Dubai Business Forum, head to dubaibusinessforum.com 

Distributed by African Media Agency on behalf of Dubai Chambers.

Dubai Chambers is a non-profit public entity that supports Dubai’s vision as a global player by empowering businesses, providing innovative value-added services and access to influential networks. In March 2021, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced the restructuring of Dubai Chamber and the formation of three chambers for the emirate, namely, Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Dubai International Chamber, and Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, which now operate under Dubai Chambers. For more information, please visit us on: 

www.dubaichambers.com 

Follow us on: 

www.facebook.com/DxbChambers

www.twitter.com/dubaichambers

www.linkedin.com/company/dubai-chambers

www.youtube.com/DubaiChamberTV

www.instagram.com/dubaichambers

For more information, please contact:

Mohamad Mouzehem

PR & Corporate Communications

Tel: +971 4 2028537

Email: mohamad.mouzehem@dubaichamber.com 

The post How foreign direct investments are strengthening Dubai’s economy appeared first on African Media Agency.

Source : African Media Agency (AMA)

Business

AIRLINK Adds More Lilongwe Flights

Ufulu

31 October  2023, Johannesburg – Airlink, Southern Africa’s premier airline, will expand its South Africa – Malawi operations with additional flights between Johannesburg and Lilongwe from 16 December 2023.

In September, Airlink launched services to both Lilongwe and Blantyre in its foray into the Malawi market, which became the 15th country in the independent regional airline’s comprehensive route network.  

“As anticipated, the market has responded positively to Airlink’s offering on the routes, which are all about providing reliable, convenient and great value connectivity for travel between the two countries.  In response to popular demand, we will be upping our frequencies on Johannesburg-Lilongwe-Johannesburg to four a week – with the introduction of Saturday flights – from mid-December,” explained Airlink CEO and Managing Director, Rodger Foster. 

Airlink operates the comfortable and efficient 37-seat Embraer Regional Jets on its Malawi routes, which will operate daily into the country.

Sustainable wildlife and tourism are vital to Malawi’s economy.  The country is often referred to as “the warm heart of Africa” and was crowned as one of Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel Top Countries in 2022.  Tourist attractions include Lake Malawi (Africa’s third-largest, which is more like an inland sea), wildlife, adventure and its rich cultural heritage. 

Under the increased schedule, flights on the Lilongwe and Blantyre routes will operate at these times and days of the week, respectively.

Flight NoDays of WeekFromDepartureToArrival
4Z 4601.3.5.6*JNB11:00LLW13:20
4Z 4611.3.5.6*LLW14:10JNB16:35

*day 6 with effect from 16 December 2023

  
Flight NoDays of WeekFromDepartureToArrival
4Z 450.2.4..7JNB11:00BLZ13:05
4Z 451.2.4..7BLZ14:15JNB16:35

Customers wanting to travel on these Airlink routes can book and manage their trips on flyairlink.com, Airlink’s smartphone app or through travel agents.

Onboard

Airlink’s great value fares on our Embraer Regional Jet flights include a 20kg free luggage allowance.  Onboard, our customers are treated to a complimentary light meal, refreshments, generous leg room and a choice of aisle or window seat (our flights do not have middle seats).

Business

NBS Bank shines at IMM awards

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Malawi Stock Exchange-listed NBS Bank scooped three awards at this year’s Marketer’s Excellence Awards held on Saturday in Mangochi.

The awards, which are meant to recognize the effort by marketers as a way of encouraging quality and professionalism, saw NBS Bank plc being named the Best Customer Service, Outstanding SME Initiative, and Commercial of the Year- Print.

Reacting to the development, the Bank’s Head of Marketing and Customer Experience, Tamanda Ng’ombe said the awards compliments their growth efforts as outlined in the new strategic plan.

“At NBS Bank, we strive to ensure we provide services that are easily accessed by our customers. Over the years we have worked on improving our digital services including our EazyMobile services to ensure customers access our services at their fingertip in the comfort of their homes.”

“Through mobile services, customers can access loans within minutes without visiting the Bank. We are now offering rewards to customers who use our digital banking services. Therefore, this recognition from the IMM has come as an affirmation of the efforts made by the Bank. We thank our customers for their trust in the brand and our staff for their dedication which has led to the recognition.”

“These awards will help us to push for more improved services. We will not relax,” said Ng’ombe.

Chief judge at the event, Enwell Kadango commended the winners saying this year the submissions improved greatly. 

In the Best Customer Service category, NBS Bank was competing with TNM, and Sunbird Hotels and Resorts, while on Outstanding SME Initiative of the year, the Bank had no competitor.

The Red Brigade, as fondly called, outclassed TNM and Victoria Forex Bureau in the Commercial of the Year- Print category.

Agriculture, Malawi

Malawi farmers to beat bad weather with OpenHarvest tool

Maravi Post Reporter

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Smallholder farmers in the central region districts of Mchinji and Kasungu are earmarked to beat the vagaries of climate change using a digital technology tool, OpenHarvest, that helps them farm sustainably.

OpenHarvest was developed by technology firm IBM® and is being deployed under the IBM Sustainability Accelerator program in collaboration with global nonprofit organization Heifer International.

The digital tool offers visual agriculture data to deliver specialized recommendations to farmers through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and climate modeling to enable better farm and field management. It is specially designed to empower Malawi’s smallholder farmers through technology and a community ecosystem.

The technology has reached 200 users in the district of Mchinji in western Malawi and is being scaled up to reach Kasungu.

The application’s impact translates to about 1,000 direct beneficiaries, as Malawi has an average family size of about five people.

In the 2023/24 growing season, the Department of Climate Change has forecast an El Nino weather pattern that will be associated with normal-to-below-normal rainfall, and in some cases delayed rainfall, while dry spells will occur in some areas. A tool such as OpenHarvest will be handy this farming season to help growers plan their rain-fed farming better.

Landlocked Malawi is home to rich, arable land and a subtropical climate suitable for farming. As a result, over 80% of the population is employed in agriculture, and their livelihood revolves around alternating rainy and dry seasons that dictate how the year’s planting, growing, and harvesting will unfold. However, the once-predictable seasons that smallholder farmers rely on are steadily shifting due to climate change.

When the rainy season arrives later than expected, many Malawian farmers still follow outdated agronomy practices that may lead them to plant too early or too late.

Smallholder farmers lack access to hyperlocal weather forecasting and data that can help increase their crops’ chances of success, which jeopardizes the productivity and profitability of their season. Their challenges are compounded further by inherent and unavoidable farming risks, such as pests, contamination, and natural disasters.

But with access to advanced technology, smart farming recommendations, and specialized weather forecasts, farmers can build resilient and flexible operations that can help maximize their fields’ productive potential. That’s why IBM® and global nonprofit Heifer International collaborated through the IBM Sustainability Accelerator to develop OpenHarvest—a digital tool to empower Malawi’s smallholder farmers through technology and a community ecosystem.

OpenHarvest sets out to close a digital divide

OpenHarvest is an open-source platform with a mobile application that expands access to visual agricultural data, delivers specialized recommendations to farmers through AI and climate modeling, and enables better farm and field management.

The OpenHarvest model assigns each participating farmer’s field a set of latitude-longitude points that trigger comprehensive recommendations according to local weather and crop growth stages.

Additionally, it monitors soil composition data (nitrogen, phosphorous, and other nutrient levels) to identify how fertilizers should be applied.

From the beginning, Heifer International and IBM sought to develop a low-cost tool that maximizes output. A serverless architecture was ideal to keep infrastructure costs to a minimum under a “pay-per-use” model.

IBM Cloud Code Engine allowed IBM developers to reduce time to deployment and focus on core objectives for Heifer International and the farms at the heart of the project—namely, being cost-effective, scalable, and reliable.

Historically, Malawian farmers have relied on generalized weather information transmitted via radio to make operational decisions.

Most farmers do not own smartphones, so Heifer International and IBM had to find an information-sharing method that could transmit precise crop and soil management recommendations generated by the OpenHarvest model while remaining accessible and affordable to the end user. The solution was an SMS text message.

IBM Consulting also brought its sustainability experience to the pilot deployment of the OpenHarvest solution, joining a project ecosystem that included Heifer International’s community facilitators, volunteers from a local university in Malawi, and smallholder farmers. It was crucial to support farmers not only with smart technology but also with a network of hands-on experts to help build trust and implement solutions.

Creating a profitable future

Climate change is not the only risk that smallholder farmers encounter in Malawi. Though the economy relies on agriculture, farmers have limited access to affordable credit or competitive markets.

The cycle of poverty and lack of access to capital have historically pushed farmers in Malawi to purchase cheaper supplies (like recycled seed) which can result in low yields and subpar crops.

For this reason, access to affordable capital can be an essential component to promote environmentally resilient practices and drive behavioral change.

IBM and Heifer International saw an opportunity to incentivize farmers to adopt best agricultural practices through a digital extension solution, while simultaneously facilitating connections to access finance and the formal market.

Ultimately, the OpenHarvest platform is differentiated by this structure, which encourages farmers to embrace digital technology and retain new farming practices. This leads to long-term profitability and success in a changing environment and economy.

Expanding deployment for greater impact

With 200 users in Mchinji accessing OpenHarvest, the application’s impact translates to about 1,000 direct beneficiaries, as Malawi has an average family size of about 5 people. The pilot deployment has now concluded with the sale of the year’s crops. Compared to previous years, most farmers saw increased yields, with some participants even doubling or tripling their output for the season.

As a next step, Heifer International plans to onboard around 300 additional farmers and expand the project into Kasungu, a district in the central region of Malawi.

Looking ahead, the program is also evaluating other innovations, such as building out robust AI models and AI integrations based on a roadmap developed with IBM.

IBM and Heifer International are proud to help change lives in Malawi and build sustainable farming solutions alongside farmers and their communities.