Tonthoza Uganja
88% of Malawi’s agricultural land is degraded yet 3M smallholder farmers depend on it for their livelihoods. Agroforestry can restore land and make farmers more income, but the transition is costly; it requires upfront financing, inputs, and training.
The Idea
Carbon-funded agroforestry transition
Organization
Organization
Sustainable Farming Solutions
The Mission
Restore land.
How It Works
SFS funds and supports farmers to restore their degraded land. They provide the right, native seedlings to farmers and train them on the agricultural practices to grow and sustain those trees - all at no cost to the farmer. SFS monitors progress and manages the carbon buyer process; once they secure a buyer, they distribute cash directly to farmers.
The Dream
Businesses modeled after SFS work with smallholder farmers on agroforestry to restore their land and raise their income. The carbon market pays for the upfront costs to transition farmers to agroforestry. Farmers make more money and land is restored.
Why We Picked Tonthoza
Tonthoza is leading a scrappy, capable, and dedicated team in Malawi. She is proving agroforestry targeted at some of the poorest farmers, in one of the most degraded landscapes in the world can not only work, but can raise farmer incomes and restore land at the same time. Tonthoza is a true expert; she's concurently completing her doctorate in agroforestry. Transitioning farmers to agroforestry takes time and money; Tonthoza is showing that not only is it worth the investment, but carbon markets will pay the premium.
