Betty’s story

“Most years we have drought here. I am trying to grow plants that can survive.”

Betty Mkusa – known locally as ‘Mamma Jatropha’ – is a small-scale farmer in southern Malawi. She gets the name from one of the ‘miracle’ plants – Jatropha, Neem and Moringa – that she grows in her small ‘garden’.

“I learned that from these three plants – which are easy to grow in our difficult climate – you can make oil for lamps or to run engines, soap for the home, fertiliser for crops, and moisturiser for the body. If you are HIV-positive you can boost your immune system with powder extract. Moringa makes a good food supplement – I take half a teaspoon with water every day!”

Betty, and other small-scale farmers like her, were introduced to the plants by Progressio partner organisation Environment Africa. The trees are nitrogen fixing, so good for the soil: between the trees, the women grow groundnuts and vegetables.

Betty is also selling seedlings – spreading the word about the ‘miracle’ plants, and making some money. “Just this year, I have sold seedlings worth 50,000 kwacha (£214),” she says. With this money, she can pay school fees for the two orphans that she and her husband care for.

“Day-to-day living is going to improve around here,” she states. “Most years we face drought. In the long term this project will change many lives.”

Photo of Betty © Marcus Perkins/Progressio