In Malawi, a growing movement of smallholder farmers is transforming agricultural practices by ditching costly chemical pesticides and embracing locally-made, plant-based alternatives that protect crops, health, and the environment. Farm Radio
In Chalula village, Lilongwe, farmer Mary Mdima used to struggle with pests like diamondback moths and aphids that destroyed her vegetables and threatened her family’s food security. Chemical pesticides were expensive and often ineffective. Today, she grows a wide range of vegetables — including cabbage, okra, tomatoes, onions, rape and mustard — using mixtures of chili, onion, neem and other plant leaves to repel and kill pests naturally. This simple and affordable approach has not only improved her harvests but also restored her confidence in sustainable farming. Farm Radio
Mdima describes how she collects local plant leaves, pounds them into a paste, soaks them in water, and sprays the extract onto her garden. The result? Pests retreat and crops thrive — without the harmful side effects and high cost of chemical solutions. Farm Radio
This shift is about more than cost savings. Another farmer, Palamila Lufeyo, turned away from buying hazardous commercial pesticides after experiencing health problems that followed their use. Like many of her peers, she now relies on botanical sprays made from readily available plants — safeguarding both her family’s health and her harvests. Farm Radio
Why This Matters
🌱 Affordable and Sustainable: Plant-based pesticides cut input costs for smallholder farmers who can’t afford expensive chemicals. Farm Radio
🌿 Health and Safety: These natural solutions reduce farmers’ exposure to toxic chemicals that pose long-term health risks. Farm Radio
🌎 Environmentally Friendly: By reducing reliance on synthetic pesticides, farmers help protect soil, water, and beneficial insects vital to ecological balance. Agriculture Journal
Agricultural extension officers and community projects are increasingly sharing knowledge on botanical pest control, helping farmers across Malawi adopt eco-friendly practices that strengthen food security, reduce their vulnerability to climate change, and build resilience in rural economies. Malawi 24
Call to Action
We call on:
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Government agencies to support training in plant-based pest control methods.
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Development partners to invest in community extension services that promote sustainable agriculture.
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Media platforms to amplify stories of farmer innovation that benefit people and the planet.
Malawi’s vegetable farmers are proving that solutions to agricultural challenges can grow from the ground up. Their success with plant-based pesticides is a powerful example of how traditional knowledge and modern advocacy can come together to transform farming — sustainably and inclusively.
Source: Malawi: Vegetable farmers switch from chemical to plant-based pesticides, Barza Wire, Farm Radio International.
