These ladies were having fun in the field with hands-on learning on how to make biochar. The day started with gathering up crop residue and bundling it together in a heap. They then learnt how to burn it correctly in order that the agricultural waste didn’t turn to ash.
The process is about setting fire to the top versus the bottom which gives a more controlled burn and then putting it out either with water or soil before it turns to ash.
The leftover material is then ‘charged’ by adding fertiliser or manure which adds nutrients and microbes to the biochar. The process usually takes around 14 days and it is then ready to mix with the soil.
How does this help? Biochar improves soil fertility and can increase the water retention of the soil as it is porous. This provides the crops with water for a longer period of time.
80% of Malawians live in rural areas and are subsistence farmers and much of the land is exhausted. Therefore, these farmers are intrigued to see how this simple technique can improve their crop yields.