ORGANIC FERTILIZER EARNS LUANAR GRADUATE BIG
Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) graduate Harold Mtengo earns K6 million every
three months from organic fertiliser sales.
He makes the fertiliser from human urine and animal waste.
Aged 43, Mtengo, the Kasungu-based entrepreneur says as farmers around the world are struggling with rising cost
of fertiliser, he encourages people to start using manure which offers numerous benefits for sustainable agriculture.
He said: ”Stop throwing away urine and start keeping it in gallons. I am encouraging people in the country to take up
this challenging project and start making their own organic fertiliser and earn high returns. The uniqueness of the
product is that it has long term benefits such as increased crop yields, resilience to drought, improved soil fertility,
among others.
The organic manure advocate, who has a Diploma in Agriculture and Natural Resources Management, told ProjectM
that he started the project in 2017 after noting that small scale farmers were struggling to buy fertiliser.
He adds that with nominal investment and effort it is easier to produce organic fertiliser.
Mtengo highlighted that he uses locally available materials such as human urine to mix with chicken or pig manure,
potassium (Phulusa), phosphorus (gaga) just to mention a few.
“We are selling a 50 kilogram bag of organic fertilizer at K10,000 only and if properly used, for 1 acre of land you can
produce more than 40 bags of maize,”he said.
The celebrated farmer said at meantime he has recruited four part time team members who are assisting him in the
production process but he said he will soon employ more people as he focuses on building his brand and getting it
known country wide.
Christopher Kamoto is among the farmers from Nkhamenya in Kasungu who are using organic fertiliser produced by
Mtengo which is called Mbambande organic fertiliser.
He has further described Mbambande organic fertilizer as helpful and requires low capital investment, enhances
drought resistance among others.
Kamoto said during the planting season he bought 20 bags of organic fertiliser which he applied correctly to his 5
acres of maize garden and is expecting to have a bountiful harvest ranging from 200 bags and above.
He said: “As you know the country was recently hit by a prolonged dry spell which was exacerbated by El Nino
weather conditions. Most of the farmers who used inorganic fertiliser had their crops dying while for us who used
manure our crops are of high quality and were not affected by the drought and we are appealing to Malawians to
start using manure which if fully actualized it will cushion the impact of climate change.”
Harold Mtengo is available on:0995 379 194