Construction of a Solar Greenhouse Dryer for Improved Porridge Flour Supply and Rural Livelihoods for Madzumbi Aggregators.

About this Project

With a secure market already in place, Madzumbi Aggregators is set to strengthen the production of Thanzi Lathu porridge flour, a nutritious blend of maize, soya, and rice supplied to Nkhoma Mission Hospital and Chisomo Miral Centre. Despite an annual demand of 48 tons, the organization currently meets only 54% of this requirement due to the absence of an efficient drying facility. With a $10,000 support from Mudzi Connect, a solar greenhouse dryer will be constructed and equipped with drying trays, solar-powered fans, and quality control systems, enabling timely drying, milling, and packaging of the product. Members of Madzumbi Aggregators will be trained in dryer operation, maintenance, and post-harvest handling to ensure sustainability and efficiency. By increasing production capacity and guaranteeing timely delivery, the project will secure reliable institutional supply, improve income for 50 households  and strengthen livelihoods across the surrounding community with over 2000 people.

Madzumbi Aggregators, a group of 50 farmers that processes and supplies porridge flour under the brand name Thanzi Lanthu Porridge, has made significant progress in improving the quality and quantity of their products. The group focused on procuring and installing a solar dryer to address challenges in the drying process, which previously affected both product quality and production capacity. The project has successfully procured and installed a solar dryer, solar panel, mesh-wire perimeter fencing for security, as well as essential drying equipment including trays, temperature monitors, and solar-powered fans. Additionally, members of the group also received training on the management and operation of the solar dryer. 

With the solar dryer now in place, drying time has been reduced drastically from 9 days to just less than 3 hours. This advancement is expected to enable the group to consistently meet increased market demand. One of their key clients, Chisomo Miral Center, has already made a commitment to increase its order volume from 270 kg per quarter to 270 kg per month boosting annual supply from 1,080 kg to 3,240 kg. Additionally, Nkhoma Mission Hospital, which typically purchases between 21,000 to 30,000 kg per year, is expected to increase its purchases by 9000 kg annually. 

With a co-investment of $4,962.88 from Mudzi Connect, Tikondane Beekeeping Club launched the Beekeeping for Economic Empowerment and Environmental Protection project in Mpalare Village, Dedza District. The initiative trained 35 youth and women in modern beekeeping, including hive management and environmental stewardship, and established 30 beehives with protective gear. Despite initial challenges like ant infestations, members quickly applied pest management strategies, reinforcing hive protection and enhancing productivity. The project resulted in increased income for participants and fostered youth and women’s leadership. It also inspired the formation of a honey marketing cooperative and community tree-planting campaigns, promoting environmental conservation. The initiative has demonstrated a sustainable model that combines economic empowerment with environmental protection, strengthening community resilience, creating livelihood opportunities, and encouraging sustainable natural resource management in Mpalare.