Build the 1st self-sustaining Farmer Field School!

Greetings from a wet Malawi! The wet season here has been exceptional this year, and there is a wonderful sense of optimism across the countryside. The maize crop - our critical staple food - shows promise of a better-than-average harvest, and with that foundation of food security, families are looking ahead with hope. At the Rural Poultry Centre, we are looking ahead too, and what we see is transformative.

It is now some time since we acquired land for Malawi's first dedicated Farmer Field School focused entirely on village poultry. This is a milestone we have worked toward for years. Following the proven principles of FAO Farmer Field Schools, this facility will serve as both a training hub and a working demonstration site where farmers can see, touch, and learn improved poultry management techniques in a practical, hands-on environment.

We have already constructed a small building that will serve as a storeroom and egg incubation room. Even in these early stages, the site is beginning to take shape as a centre of learning and possibility. Thanks to significant support through the Australian Government's Direct Aid Program, our next step is to construct a separate training unit comprising a purpose-built meeting and training room with attached food preparation facilities. This space will allow us to gather farmers - with a special focus on women, who are traditionally the caregivers of village poultry - for innovative, immersive, and practical sessions that build both skills and confidence.

We have secured much of the funding needed for this construction, and the basics will be well under way during this year. To complete the project and make it fully operational, we need to top up our resources for furnishings and perimeter security fencing - essential elements that will transform a building into a functional, safe learning environment.

Once the training unit is usable, we will begin working with local groups, initially focusing on women in surrounding communities. But this school is designed for scale. It will enable us not only to assist local farmers directly but also to serve as a focal point for communities across a much wider region. By training local trainers and developing a skilled network of poultry experts, we will amplify our impact exponentially.

The challenge we address remains urgent. In rural Malawi, chickens offer one of the most accessible pathways out of poverty - providing protein for children and income for families. Yet devastating diseases like Newcastle disease have long kept this potential out of reach. The Farmer Field School model works because it empowers farmers to become experts in their own context, learning together and carrying solutions back to their villages.

When you support this project, you are not simply helping us construct a building. You are helping us create a permanent institution for learning, resilience, and hope. You are helping families protect their flocks, feed their children, and build sustainable livelihoods from the ground up.

The 2026 wet season brings promise. With your continued partnership, that promise will take root, grow, and multiply across Malawi for years to come.

Warmly, Pat Boland.

Links:

• Support us by donating here:

Thanks to your generous support, the Rural Poultry Centre is making significant progress at our Chadza Farmer Field School. We are not just constructing a centre here - we are building a hub for skills, entrepreneurship, and community resilience.

With guidance from local experts, we have begun designing our first formal training programmes on egg incubation and chick brooding. The interest and enthusiasm from the community, particularly among the women of Chadza, is palpable. In collaboration with local leaders, we will select four women from the community to pilot this initiative. They will gain the essential skills to incubate eggs and sell chicks locally, creating a sustainable model we hope to replicate further afield.

The incubation room and storeroom at the Farmer Field School are now 90% complete. This puts us on track to launch our first trainings after the coming wet season. Furthermore, we are in positive consultations with support agencies to build a dedicated training unit next year.

A sense of community is at our core. From the outset, we have worked closely with Traditional Authority (T/A) Chadza and his team, especially SGVH Mnongwa, to ensure this project meets local needs and fosters a strong sense of community ownership. To date, we have provided piecework and supported the community contribution for over 20 local individuals involved in the build.

While we have come far, we still require support for crucial next steps: installing windows and gates, purchasing incubator equipment, constructing demonstration chicken coops from local materials, and training our technical team.

Thank you for being an essential partner on this journey. Together, we are laying the foundations for a brighter future.

Links:

• Kyeema Foundation