Two Malawian inventors, Alex Chipeta and Innocent Pakhalekhale have each been awarded K40 million after winning the National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST)-MUBAS Innovation Challenge for their outstanding work in renewable energy technologies.
The competition, organised was aimed at supporting home-grown solutions to local problems.
Alex Chipeta developed a solar-powered rope and washer pump, designed to help farmers with irrigation. This pump uses sunlight to draw water from the ground, making it easier and cheaper for farmers to water their crops, especially during dry seasons. It is an efficient and reliable solution that does not require fuel or electricity.
On the other hand, Innocent Pakhalekhale created a solar preserver, which helps to keep perishable foods fresh for a longer time. The preserver is especially useful for farmers, vendors, and families who often struggle with food spoilage due to lack of proper storage. It uses solar energy to maintain cool temperatures inside the storage unit.
Speaking during the award ceremony, MUBAS Vice-Chancellor, Associate Professor Nancy Chitera, said Malawi has the capacity to create local solutions for her challenges. She also encouraged more support towards innovation.
“Malawi has the potential to develop home-grown solutions to its problems. We just need to support our innovators,” said Professor Chitera.
The Director General of the NCST, Gift Kadzamira called for more funding to help support more young inventors in the country.
These two innovations, one for better farming and another for food storage, show how science and creativity can help solve everyday problems using simple, sustainable solutions.
