Tikolerane Savings Group Ventures into Irrigation Farming to Strengthen Livelihoods
“We started as a savings and loan group, but now we have decided to invest in farming together. We want our group to grow beyond just buying shares and giving out loans,” says Ephron Jere, Chairperson of Tikolerane Savings and Loan Group in Mpherembe, Mzimba District.
For Jere and his fellow members, the decision has marked a new chapter in their efforts to strengthen their livelihoods. The group, based in Phasha Village under Group Village Head Greya Jere, comprises 22 members, equally divided between men and women, all of whom are beneficiaries of the Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP).
Initially, Tikolerane focused on mobilising savings, purchasing shares and providing loans to members. However, members recognised the need to explore additional income-generating opportunities to strengthen their financial position and support their households.
Through the Social Protection for Gender Empowerment and Resilience (SP-GEAR) project, members received training in savings and loan management and were encouraged to establish individual small businesses. These efforts helped strengthen their savings and lending activities, with the group's accumulated savings reaching MK1.2 million.
Further training in business management encouraged members to consider investing collectively. After discussing different opportunities, they agreed to venture into irrigation farming.
“After receiving business management training, we discussed what we could do together as a group. We agreed that irrigation farming was something we could invest in collectively,” Jere explains.
Putting their decision into practice, the group rented approximately half an acre of land for MK80,000 and spent MK280,000 on land preparation. They planted around 6,000 tomato seedlings and established a duty roster, assigning members responsibility for maintaining the garden while accommodating elderly members who may not manage physically demanding tasks.
“We have planted about 6,000 tomato seedlings, and they are now flowering. We are already informing vendors about our tomatoes so that we can find buyers when they are ready for sale,” says Jere.
If production and market conditions are favourable, the group anticipates generating approximately MK3.8 million from tomato sales.
“If everything goes according to plan, we expect to earn about MK3.8 million from the tomatoes. We are hopeful that this business will help us strengthen our group,” Jere adds.
Beyond generating income, Tikolerane is also using the garden to support household nutrition. Members have planted rape greens, kholowa (sweet potato leaves) and bonongwe (amaranth leaves) for household consumption, complementing their commercial tomato production and encouraging dietary diversity.
For group member Paulina Mbewe, the progress made so far has inspired ambitions for a larger farming enterprise.
“Our plan is to expand the garden from half an acre to two acres. We also want to buy a water pump so that we can grow more crops,” Mbewe explains.
She says the group hopes to extend its farming activities beyond tomatoes to include maize, using irrigation to support larger-scale production.
“We do not want to end with this tomato garden. We want to grow tomatoes and maize on a larger scale, and having our own water pump will help us achieve that,” she adds.
Although the group has yet to harvest its tomatoes or realise income from sales, its progress demonstrates how members have translated financial literacy and business management training into a practical collective investment.
For Tikolerane, the next milestone will be the first harvest, when members will be able to assess their actual earnings and determine how best to grow the business. Their journey from savings and lending to irrigation farming reflects their determination to use collective action to pursue greater economic opportunities and improved household food security.
The Social Protection for Gender Empowerment and Resilience (SP-GEAR) project targets Social Cash Transfer Programme participants, particularly women and girls, to strengthen their livelihoods, economic participation and resilience. CRECCOM supports implementation in Zomba, Mzimba North and Mzimba South. The project is funded by the European Union and the Government of Ireland through UNICEF Malawi.
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