Legal Entity: Malawi: Warm Heart Biochar Limited.​

🇲🇼 Regions Served: Southern and Central Malawi

Program Launched: 2017

Country Lead: Sylvester G. Chiweza, Country Manager

​Contact: sylvester.malawi@warmheartworldwide.org

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 Malawi/Malawian 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)

• Biochar demonstration plots and kitchen gardens
• Expansion into Northern Region communities
• 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

Kenya Biochar Farmers Management Company Limited