From scarcity to security: How farming knowledge transformed Ginny Sam’s life in Balaka
29 May, 2025
From scarcity to security: How farming knowledge transformed Ginny Sam’s life in Balaka
For
Ginny Sam, a resident of Group Village Malukula in Balaka District,
life was once a daily struggle marked by hunger and uncertainty.
“We used to face acute hunger before CARD came in,” she recalled. “Our harvests
were always small because we lacked farming knowledge. My family was struggling
so much.”
Today,
Ginny’s story is one of transformation, resilience and hope.
“Just
look at me, I am healthy,” she said, beaming with pride. “Food is now plenty in
my house. I have harvested 30 bags of sorghum from just one acre, six bags of
maize and two bags of cowpeas from a quarter-acre intercropped field. And I am
expecting even more!”
Through the Enhancing Climate Resilience for Improved Income and Food Security (ECRIF) Project, funded by the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) through Presbyterian World Service and Development (PWS&D), Ginny received training in good agricultural practices including soil and water conservation and management and Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR).
“At first, we used to farm without any plan or
proper knowledge. As a result, we got very little harvest. But CARD gave us the guidance
we needed, to have a bumper harvest,” she explained.
With
these new skills, Ginny has diversified her farming. In addition to sorghum,
she now grows sesame, cowpeas and maize. She also engages in vegetable
gardening, livestock production and organic manure making, a key adaptation to
the drought-prone environment of Balaka.
“My
family is now food secure and having plenty of food is
something completely new to me. I am forever grateful.” Ginny shared.
Ginny
Sam’s journey is a testament to the power of knowledge and community support.
With CARD’s help, families like hers are not just surviving, but thriving one
harvest at a time.
