George Bonjesi Phiri’s Fight Against Climate Change Despite the Odds
Sixty-year-old George Bonjesi Phiri has spent his entire life farming in Biya Village, Nkhata Bay North. Like generations before him, he relied on the rhythms of the seasons, trusting that the land would provide for his growing family. But over the years, something changed. The rains that once nourished his crops became erratic. Droughts lasted longer. When the rains did come, they arrived in violent storms, washing away what little remained of the topsoil.
For Mr. Phiri, farming is more than just a way to put food on the table, it is his family’s only source of income. He and his wife work tirelessly to support their seven children, but their combined earnings of MK50,000 to MK70,000 (£32) per month fall short of Malawi’s MK80,000 minimum survival expenditure for rural households. With the cost of fertilizer rising and crop yields declining, it was becoming harder to afford school fees, healthcare, and even daily meals.
Mr. Phiri’s struggle reflects a larger crisis unfolding across Malawi. The country is in the grip of a climate emergency, battling prolonged droughts, floods, and food insecurity. In March 2024, Malawi declared a state of disaster after an El Niño weather pattern worsened an already fragile agricultural system. Farmers were urged to adopt drought-resistant crops and organic manure, but for many, these solutions arrived too late. Families who depended on consistent rainfall found themselves trapped in a cycle of hunger and poverty, unable to recover before the next climate shock hit. This comes on the back of Deputy Minister of Health Halima Daud calling for support from relevant stakeholders toward the expansion of water and sanitation facilities in the country, including Nkhata Bay North.
Adding to the crisis, a freeze in international aid funding has left many Malawian communities without critical resources. The suspension of $350 million in USAID assistance, which accounted for 13% of the country’s budget, has severely impacted food security, healthcare, and climate adaptation efforts. In the face of these growing challenges, local solutions like Temwa’s Carbon Balance (TCB) Project have become a vital lifeline for rural farmers like Mr. Phiri.
Mr. Phiri first learned about Temwa ten years ago, when the organization launched the Biliwiri Forest restoration project in nearby Honga. He was eager to join, recognizing the potential of sustainable farming practices to restore his land. Through the TCB Project, he began implementing agroforestry techniques, planting trees to restore soil fertility and reduce runoff that was stripping away his farmland.
With Temwa’s support, Mr. Phiri has established a forest woodlot, growing 1,597 tree seedlings, including 52 fruit trees that will provide both nutrition and income for his family. These trees act as a natural defence against soil erosion, helping to retain moisture and enrich the land.
“I was farming blindly before,” Mr. Phiri admits. “Now, I see a future for my land and my children.”
The benefits of the TCB Project extend beyond Mr. Phiri’s farm. Across Nkhata Bay North, over 184,000 trees have been planted, helping to counteract deforestation, store carbon, and mitigate the effects of climate change. Communities are shifting towards more sustainable land management practices, and bare lands are being reforested, reducing environmental degradation.
Despite his progress, Mr. Phiri faces new challenges. At his age, manual farm labour is becoming increasingly difficult. He dreams of expanding his farm into a commercial operation, but without an irrigation system, he is limited to what he and his family can physically manage. “If we had irrigation, we could farm all year round, increase our yields, and secure our income,” he explains.
As Malawi braces for another round of climate shocks, projects like TCB are crucial. Community-led reforestation and sustainable agriculture provide a long-term solution to food insecurity, soil degradation, and carbon emissions.
While international aid remains uncertain, local efforts like Mr. Phiri’s woodlot offer a blueprint for resilience, proof that smallholder farmers can fight back against climate change with the right knowledge and support.
“I want my children to inherit a farm that is thriving,” Mr. Phiri says. “With Temwa’s help, I believe that’s possible.”
To truly scale up climate resilience in Malawi, farmers need continued investment in carbon-balancing strategies, agroforestry, and irrigation infrastructure. With more resources, TCB can support farmers like Mr. Phiri in expanding their sustainable farms, increasing food production, and ensuring future generations inherit land that is rich and productive.
Mr. Phiri’s journey is a testament to the power of knowledge, adaptation, and community-driven solutions. In the face of worsening climate conditions, he is proving that change is possible, one tree, one harvest, and one hopeful step at a time.
Read more about Temwa Carbon Balance in our latest report here.
