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In Kotokwa community, Phalombe District, a simple banana plant is becoming a symbol of hope for vulnerable families.
Through the Phalombe Anglican Child Development Centre (CDC), ANGSOMA Development Commission is supporting caregivers to establish banana gardens as part of its livelihood and household food security interventions. The initiative seeks to help families produce food for their own consumption while creating opportunities for sustainable income.
Caregivers have received banana planting materials to establish gardens around their homes. A banana garden has also been established at a demonstration site, providing an opportunity for caregivers to learn and share practical knowledge on banana production.
Encouraging progress at household level
The results so far are encouraging. Most caregivers have successfully established and maintained their banana plants at household level, with the plants showing good growth.
This progress demonstrates the commitment of caregivers and their willingness to adopt sustainable agricultural practices that can strengthen household resilience.
For families participating in the Child Development Centre, livelihood support is an important part of ensuring that children do not simply receive short-term assistance, but grow up in households with greater capacity to provide food, education, healthcare and other essential needs.
Overcoming challenges together
The demonstration garden continues to face a significant challenge: limited access to water. With no nearby water source, caregivers have to collect water from a considerable distance to maintain the plants.
Despite this challenge, the success of household gardens provides encouragement that the intervention has significant potential. ANGSOMA and the community are committed to strengthening the project and exploring ways of addressing the water challenge at the demonstration site.
From planting bananas to building resilience
The banana project is more than an agricultural intervention. It is part of ANGSOMA’s broader approach to integrating child development with household economic empowerment and food security.
By equipping caregivers with planting materials and practical knowledge, the programme is helping families develop productive assets that can continue providing benefits beyond the life of a project.
As the banana gardens mature, they have the potential to provide both food and income, contributing to stronger and more resilient households.
Every banana plant represents a seed of possibility—a step towards food security, self-reliance and a brighter future for vulnerable children and their families in Phalombe.
ANGSOMA Development Commission – serving and helping to develop people holistically through community empowerment, partnerships and innovative programmes that improve livelihoods, health, education and social justice.
