Mgom’mera Seed as Conservation Enterprise under USAID REFRESH funded project focus on the production of pure and clean early maturing planting materials for improved food, nutrition and income security to different fishing and other communities across Malawi. The enterprise does this by signing contract farming agreements with farmer organizations and individuals along Lake Malawi to grow and produce leguminous and cereal seeds. 

Upon harvest, the company buys the seed from the farmer organizations and individuals based on the agreed prices as such creating alternative livelihoods for women and youths, currently the enterprise is working with 217 People, 204 females from 10 Clubs who are also into Village savings and loan association (VSLAs) in TA Pemba, Salima and 10 females and 13 males from Kabvumbwe Club in Linthipe TA Kalonga, Salima. 

The company planned to start with 216 farmers from 6 clubs 36 members per group in first year and to impact total of 864 households/farmers 60% females and 40% males by the end of this program along lake shore thereby reducing pressure on fisheries biodiversity. 

The company also supplies high quality grafted fruits and tree seedlings to farmers within the fishing communities accompanied with extension packages and advisory services during seed field inspections. 

The company has distributed tree seedlings during the 2021/2022 rainy season to Kambwiri, Kawanga, Chimbalanga and Liganga villages under TA Kambwiri in Salima where 3,761 seedlings of fertility trees, Forage trees, Fuel trees, fencing trees and Fruit trees have been distributed to farmers

The trees cover the bare uplands thereby reducing soil erosion that deposits silts into fish habitats. Moreover, once the fruit trees grow and start bearing fruits, the fishing communities will have another means of generating income to support their households thereby reducing overreliance on fishing. On average grafted mangoes, and banana takes one year to start harvesting fruits, Mulberries, and grafted guavas take 2 years to start producing fruits.

Indeed, empowering fishing communities with alternative means of making money other than fishing will reduce overfishing on Lake Malawi thereby sustaining and restoring fish on the lake for future generation.