Tionerepo SLG Ventures into Irrigation and Piggery Farming

Tionerepo SLG members tending their vegetable garden -Applying irrigation skills gained through SP-GEAR training

Tionerepo Savings and Loan Group (SLG) is based in Zolokere Village, under Traditional Authority Mtwalo in Mzimba North. The group comprises 22 members (10 males and 12 females), including 15 Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) beneficiaries (4 males and 11 females).

Since its formation, Tionerepo SLG had primarily focused on savings and internal lending, where members purchased shares and accessed loans from the group.

With the introduction of the Social Protection for Gender Empowerment and Resilience (SP-GEAR) project that CRECCOM is implementing with funding from EU, Government of Ireland and UNICEF, the group received training in SLG methodology, business management, Climate Smart Agriculture, and gender-transformative approaches through Community Development Assistant (CDA) Wakisa Kapunda and Community-Based Trainer (CBT) Catherine Kuwala.

Through these sessions, members gained valuable knowledge in SLG management, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, gender roles, manure production, and sustainable soil management.

CRECCOM Executive Director Alinafe Ireen Chibwana joins the group in tending their vegetable garden during one of her field visits.

Putting their newfound knowledge into practice, the group opened a bank account with FDH Bank to enhance the security of their funds. They then decided to venture into group business by engaging in irrigation-based vegetable farming. Using K100,000 from the group’s social fund, they rented a garden at K50,000 and used the remaining amount to purchase vegetable seeds. Labour was provided by group members.

In their first farming cycle, they planted rape and lettuce and generated K185,000 from vegetable sales to local vendors. Encouraged by this success, the group invested part of the proceeds into piggery farming by purchasing four piglets at K40,000 each.

The group’s four piglets settle into their new kraal—an investment made from vegetable garden proceeds.

Simultaneously, they continued with their irrigation farming activities. A second round of vegetables—rape and lettuce—is almost ready for market, with a projected income of K260,000.

“We are applying the knowledge we gained in business management. Every aspect of our business is well documented,” said Blessings Tionerepo, the group’s secretary. “At the moment, we have not started sharing profits, as we are focused on expanding the business. All the revenue generated is being reinvested to boost our capital. We are currently preparing another garden where we plan to grow tomatoes using drip irrigation."