In many parts of Malawi, young people continue to face a difficult reality, limited access to capital, unemployment, and shrinking opportunities to build sustainable livelihoods. For those interested in farming, the challenge is even greater. Without access to loans or agricultural inputs, many young people struggle to move beyond subsistence farming.
But in Ntchisi District, a youth-focused agricultural initiative is helping to rewrite that story.
Through the PUSHA loan initiative, young farmers are being provided with soya bean seed loans instead of cash, giving them an opportunity to venture into commercial agriculture while minimizing financial risks. What may appear to be a simple seed package is now transforming lives, helping young people stay in school, start businesses, and regain hope for the future.
For 25-year-old Kondwani Dayimoni, the programme came at a life-changing moment.
Dayimoni says he was on the verge of dropping out of school because of financial difficulties. But after joining the Tazindikira Cooperative in his village, he qualified for the PUSHA loan and cultivated one and a half acres of soya beans.
The harvest exceeded his expectations.
From the seed loan, he harvested more than 30 bags of soya beans, enough to not only sustain his household but also support his dream of pursuing tertiary education at Domasi Teachers College.
What started as an opportunity to access farm inputs has now become a stepping stone toward a professional career.
The initiative is also opening doors for young women.
Triphina Maliko says the PUSHA loan has helped her expand her farming activities while also allowing her to start an Airtel Money business as an additional source of income. Through farming, she says she has gained confidence and financial independence.
Maliko believes many institutions are often hesitant to support young people because they fear defaulting and poor commitment. However, she says young people can prove themselves trustworthy if given a chance.
She is now encouraging fellow youths, especially young women, to join farming groups and cooperatives in order to access opportunities similar to the one she received.
“Farming has helped me become independent and I want to encourage other young people, especially girls, to join next season,” she says.
“Loans are very helpful. What young people should do is follow instructions and pay back the loan so that others may also benefit. Agriculture is serious business and young people can benefit a lot from it.”
At the centre of the initiative is the cooperative model.
Apart from helping farmers access seed loans, the Tazindikira Cooperative also serves as an off-taker, providing farmers with a ready market for their produce after harvest. This reduces exploitation by vendors and gives young farmers confidence that they will be able to sell what they produce.
Marketing Department representative Alfonso Kachapira Banda says the cooperative buys produce using reliable scales and follows government-set prices.
“We help farmers access markets so they do not struggle after harvest,” he explains. “This benefits both the farmers and the cooperative.”
Tazindikira Cooperative Chairperson Violet Kamwaza says working in groups has proven effective in helping young people improve their livelihoods and succeed in farming.
She says cooperatives not only improve access to loans and markets but also encourage accountability and knowledge sharing among young farmers.
Agriculture Extension Methodologist Officer under the Ntchisi Agriculture Office, Masautso Bamusi Phiri, says empowering young people through agricultural financing is critical for improving productivity and strengthening livelihoods.
Phiri says stakeholders must continue working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture to minimize risks associated with youth financing and ensure more young people are actively participating in agribusiness.
“Young people are an important component in achieving growth in agriculture,” he says.
As Malawi continues to grapple with unemployment and economic challenges, initiatives such as PUSHA are demonstrating that agriculture can become more than just a survival strategy for young people.
For some youths in Ntchisi, farming is no longer viewed as a last resort. Instead, it is becoming a pathway to education, entrepreneurship, and financial independence.
The PUSHA Loan initiative is an agricultural input financing package provided by the Farmers Union of Malawi with support from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa. The programme is specifically designed to support young farmers by improving access to agricultural inputs and agribusiness opportunities.
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