A 30-year-old Emelia Phiri has founded Emie’s Farms, a thriving enterprise dedicated to producing high-quality crops for Mzuzu’s growing urban market.
Despite facing numerous challenges, including the loss of her mother at a young age and financial difficulties, Emelia’s determination and passion for agriculture have enabled her to build a successful business.
According to Phiri, the support of CAMFED Malawi, which sponsored her education, she began her agricultural journey by cultivating tomatoes on a small plot in Lupaso, Mzuzu.
Her hard work and innovative approach caught the attention of CAMFED’s Country Director, who provided a K1 million loan to expand her operations.
Today, Emie’s Farms produces a range of crops, including tomatoes, Irish potatoes, onions, watermelons, and groundnuts, supplying local households and businesses in Mzuzu. She has managed to employ three people.
Phiri said that her success story serves as an inspiration to many young Malawians, particularly women, who aspire to make a meaningful impact on their communities.
Her journey highlights also recognises the support from organisations like CAMFED and SMEDI, which have played a crucial role in her success.
“I want to encourage everyone that farming is doable and is not forocal people only we can do better, but just like many businesses in farming, we also meet challenges, especially due to high cost of farming materials becomes very hard to maintain the farm,” said Phiri.
As Emie’s Farms continues to grow, Emelia plans to diversify her crop production, expand her market reach and invest in a solar-powered irrigation system to improve efficiency.
Mzimba-based agricultural expert Peter Mwitha also said the youth should take the lead in farming if the country wants to to better in agricultural sector.
