Professor Banda, one of AWP's field coordinators, spends most his time out on the farms, teaching farmers how to grow more food more efficiently. But even if he could do this 365 days a year for 10 years, he alone could barely scratch the surface.
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| Professor meets with Lead Farmers in their tomato garden |
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| Looks good! But there are some improvements that could be made. |
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| Lead Farmers look for advice on how to use their available water supply to increase tomato acreage |
The best way for Professor to motivate agricultural process changes on a large scale - on the order of 10,000 households per year - is to engage with lead farmers. Lead farmers possess skills that allow them to be successful early adopters of change. They teach in formal and informal interactions with other farmers in their communities, and their work is held up as an example for others to follow.
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| Lead Farmer at Ngwangwa shares his ideas and techniques with farmers from nearby villages |
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| Passing through the gardens, farmers meet, greet, and discuss the work. |
During the first year or two, while AWP is setting foundations for lead farmers, field coordinators like Professor are busy training Lead Farmers. Later, those lead farmers grow the base of farmers who have adopted improved irrigation and agricultural methods.
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| Visiting farmers share and ask questions, taking lessons and inspiration back with them. |
