The Bishop of St Albans’ Harvest Appeal 2018 Give peas a chance

Pigeon Pea farmer, Frank Zulu: “I have benefited a lot from pigeon pea farming. I sell surplus production to obtain income which helps me purchase household items. In addition, the cost of production is very low, and after selling the peas I obtain a significant amount of money. It’s also food for my family.”

‘Give peas a chance’ - helping farmers in Malawi turn peas into profit Farmers in Malawi have traditionally grown maize, but severe and unpredictable weather conditions, such as droughts and flash-flooding, have in some years totally destroyed these crops, leaving communities with nothing to harvest – so little food and no income. There is new hope with the remarkable Pigeon Pea

Pigeon Peas have strong roots which grow down deeply into the soil, they are a drought resistant crop, which grow healthily in the fields of southern Malawi. Perhaps surprisingly, Pigeon Peas offer a wide range of nutritional benefits: Rich protein content – stimulates growth Improve digestion Vitamin B – boosts energy levels Vitamin C – strengthens the immune system

Nutritious family meals can be prepared using Pigeon Peas Nutritious family meals can be prepared using Pigeon Peas. The flavour of the pea is quite un-remarkable, and they are often combined with other grains, such as maize, or crushed into flour to make bread.

There is an international market for Pigeon Peas, and farmers work together in co-operatives to give them the power to negotiate fairer prices for their crops.

The children in these rural farming communities of Malawi can hope for a brighter future. These pictured, who are of school age, are in school. They enjoy their studies and already have ambitions such as becoming nurses, doctors and accountants.

This photograph was taken in 2015 – there was severe flooding which devastated the farmers’ fields. Modesta (pictured) recalls, “I rely heavily on my field. When the waters came and swept away most of it, I was desperate. I felt so helpless and wondered how my family would get through this situation.” Modesta is now part of the Village Civil Protection Committee, which plays an important role in warning communities that heavy rain is coming and helps to prevent loss of life. She has continued farming, she grows Pigeon Peas, Cassava and Maize, she practices conservation agriculture, mulching and making her own manure.