🌍 Malawi Biochar Program

Malawi Biochar Impact at a Glance

21,000+

Farmers Trained
Since 2017

400

Communities Reached
Southern & Central Malawi

90%

Biomass Diverted
From Open Burning

60%

Active Adoption
Farmers Using Biochar

~100

Bags per Household
Average Production

Legal Entity: Malawi: Warm Heart Biochar Limited.​
🇲🇼 Regions Served: Southern and Central Malawi
Program Launched: 2017
Country Lead: Sylvester G. Chiweza, Country Manager
​Contact: [email protected]
Key Partners:
  • Village in Partnerships (VIP)
  • Catholic Development Commission in Malawi
  • University of Malawi
  • Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST)
  • Ministry of Agriculture – Zomba District Agricultural Executive Committee (DAEC)
Primary Beneficiaries:
  • Smallholder farmers
  • Women farmers
  • Youth
  • Displaced / refugee farmers
  • Farmer cooperatives
The Challenge in MalawiMalawian farmers face compounding pressures:
  • Severely degraded soils
  • Declining crop yields
  • Open burning of crop residues
  • Deforestation
  • Fuel shortages
  • Climate shocks (drought, flooding, extreme heat)
  • Conflict-related displacement
These conditions directly undermine food security and reduce farmer productivity and income. With over one-third of households experiencing food insecurity, restoring soil health and building climate resilience is urgent.
Why Biochar Works Here
​Biochar enables farmers to convert locally available crop residues—especially maize stalks and cobs—into a powerful soil amendment.
In Malawi, biochar is effective because it:
  • Restores soil fertility
  • Improves moisture retention during drought
  • Increases crop yields
  • Reduces reliance on expensive chemical fertilizers
  • Prevents harmful open field burning
  • Builds long-term soil structure and resilience
  • Supports climate-smart agriculture at very low cost
Farmers consistently report that biochar provides a practical, affordable solution aligned with local realities.
Program Reach & Impact
  • 21,000 farmers trained
  • 400 communities reached
  • 60% of trained farmers actively using biochar
  • 90% of crop biomass diverted from open burning
  • ~100 bags of biochar produced per household (average)

Reported Outcomes
Farmers report::
  • Increased crop yields
  • Improved soil moisture retention
  • Reduced fertilizer use
  • Reduced smoke from burning
  • Improved household income
  • Strengthened food security
Additional observations include improved poultry health. Chickens fed biochar-supplemented feed show improved resistance to common diseases, better survival rates, and stronger productivity.
How the Program Works
​Farmer Introduction & Training
Farmers are introduced to biochar through:
  • Community meetings
  • Demonstration events
  • On-farm training
  • Peer-to-peer learning
  • Train-the-trainer model
Trainings are delivered by:
  • Warm Heart biochar staff
  • Local partner NGOs
  • Farmer trainers
  • Mixed training teams
A Typical Training Session
  • Conducted at village level
  • Organized with village chief participation
  • Average duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Minimum participants: 50 farmers
  • Includes hands-on production and field application demonstration
  • Team roles include trainer, camera operator, and data collector
Village chiefs formally authorize training activities and mobilize participation, strengthening community ownership and legitimacy.
Biochar Production Methods Used
​Farmers are trained in multiple systems to match local conditions:
  • TLUD (Top-Lit Up-Draft)
  • Trench method
  • Trough method​
The trench method is especially promising due to its low cost and ease of construction.
Biomass Sources
Common feedstocks include:
  • Maize stalks and cobs
  • Coffee waste
  • Rice husks
  • Forestry residues
  • Animal manure
How Farmers Use Biochar
​Biochar applications include:
  • Soil amendment
  • Compost enhancement
  • Livestock feed supplement
  • Briquettes and fuel
  • Multiple integrated uses
Farmers sign formal declarations committing to stop open field burning, reinforcing collective behavior change.
Climate & Environmental Alignment
The Malawi Biochar Program aligns with national climate-smart agriculture priorities and supports:
  • SDG 2 – Zero Hunger
  • SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption & Production
  • SDG 13 – Climate Action
  • SDG 15 – Life on Land
By treating crop residues as assets rather than waste, farmers reduce deforestation pressure and improve land stewardship.

Sustainability & Scale Pathway
The program grows through:
  • Farmer-to-farmer replication
  • Train-the-trainer networks
  • Income-generating applications
  • Government engagement
  • Integration into existing farming systems

What Will Help Scale Further
  • Funding for training materials and transport
  • Expansion of trainer networks into additional districts
  • Stronger collaboration with government extension services
  • Localized demonstration sites
  • Expanded awareness campaigns
  • Promotion of the low-cost trench method
  • Access to soft loans for farmers (including certified seeds)

Risks & Mitigation
Key Challenges
  • Cultural attachment to residue burning
  • Limited financial and material resources
  • Logistical constraints in remote areas
  • Climate shocks disrupting biomass availability
Example: In 2023, severe drought in Machinga District reduced crop residue availability.

Mitigation Strategies
  • Continuous community engagement
  • Village chief mobilization and verifier systems
  • Promotion of low-cost trench production
  • Post-harvest training scheduling
  • Follow-up visits to reinforce adoption
  • Partner collaboration during climate disruptions

Funding Priorities (Next 12–24 Months)
  1. Biochar demonstration plots and kitchen gardens
  2. Expansion into Northern Region communities
  3. Access to soft loans for biochar farmers


Transparency & Documentation
Available materials include:
  • Training photos
  • Biochar production photos
  • Farmer field images
  • Before/after comparisons
  • Short videos

Closing Note
Warm Heart’s Malawi Biochar Program is more than a soil intervention. It empowers smallholder farmers with practical, low-cost, climate-resilient solutions that improve yields, protect livestock, reduce open burning, and strengthen food security.
​
In a country where hunger remains a pressing challenge, biochar is restoring soils, protecting livelihoods, and building resilience—community by community.

Completed by:
Sylvester G. Chiweza
Country Manager – Malawi
09 February 2026

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