Article By: Riikka Hokkanen
In a country with the 5th highest deforestation rate in the world, 42% of children under the age of five stunted by malnutrition, and ever increasing incidence of climatic extremities – floods and droughts – something needs to be done quickly, and I believe the change needs to happen from individuals like us.
This is January, the beginning of a new year, and it happens to be tree planting month and an opportunity to create a brighter future for the next generation. My partner and I are blessed to be welcoming a new baby into our lives in January which spurred me to think about the type of future I want for him/her – one of poor nutrition, lack of food security, drought and extreme flooding, or one of health, abundant food and a healthy environment? I know which one we would all choose but who is willing to do something about it? Inspired by a village called Piplantri in India, we have decided to plant 111 mango and other trees in honour of the birth of our baby this rainy season.
We are privileged to have access to land which has been in the family for generations and have chosen three improved varieties of mangoes which fruit at different times (extending the fruiting season), each one is suitable to be eaten as fresh fruit but also chosen for other qualities such as suitability for drying, pickling and juicing.
In three years’ time those trees will start producing fruits full of nutrition, and did you know that one fully mature mango can produce up to 30,000 fruits per season? Our 90 mango trees could one day be producing 2,000,000 fruits per season which will mean more than enough surplus to share with everyone in the community.
Since variety is the key to our human existence, we have also chosen other fruiting trees (e.g. mulberries and masuku) and local hardwoods, most of which have medicinal properties and are of high value.
Malawi has an impressive record of reducing infant and child mortality, imagine if only 10 trees were planted in honour of each child born and then cared for by the family? Considering current population growth estimations projected at 40 million by 2040, it would result in 250 million newly established trees by 2040.
Now picture the clean air, improved rains, clear flowing rivers, protected soils, and reduced flood risk. Am I an idealist? Yes, but there’s no point in sitting around (‘khala basi’) and complaining about the situation, it’s time to do something about it.
Riikka, long term Lilongwe resident
If you’d like to share ideas on the issue or ask for any advice on tree planting feel free to email me on rehokkanen@gmail.com
For high quality mango seedlings near Lilongwe we highly recommend Mwayi Nursery Phone: 0999 639 160 – Now let’s get planting!
