The crops are flowering

The maize is tasseling and the cobs are forming; in order for cross pollination of the hybrid varieties to take place some tassels are removed by hand.

Maize tassel (male flower)

Fred removing tassel flower

 

 

The female cob grows silk on which the pollen falls to fertilize the seeds.  The high yielding hybrid varieties produce 2 cobs per plant,

Shopping

We are surrounded by traders, prices are very reasonable and shop fronts colourful and attractive.  There are big supermarkets in the cities, the markets and trading posts line the roads. 

Shop names are descriptive and entertaining.

This is where we buy our beans.

Mr Ndala will find anything from a USB cable to a watch batter (30p)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The older girls wrap themselves in colourful kitenge prints.

 Time Off
Terri has the Horticulture Correspondence College RHS Level 2 resource material which occupied a good proportion of Nicola and Steve's weight allowance.  Many happy hours will be spent learning all matters horticultural.

The first of 2 huge lever arch files.

Roger, Terri's brother, a beekeeper from Aberystwyth tells us his bees are flying and foraging, this is indeed a sign of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
T and I

The growing season continues

We have been short of power over the past few weeks and use of the internet has been limited, however we are now in our second day of everything working!

The maize and groundnuts are beginning to flower with small cobs forming on the maize and tiny groundnuts visible. Apart from some flood damage the crops are looking well and fairly weed free.

 Maize planted Christmas week

 Maize planted early January

Peanuts growing on ridges

Yellow peanut flowers

The population of Malawi has increased 4 fold since independence in 1964, most of the 16 million+ people live in the rural areas and the economy is based on agriculture. The main cash crop and chief export from the country is tobacco accounting for 70% of export revenue. The land has been heavily cultivated and deforested.  Soil erosion has become a threat tackled by tree planting and education programmes.

Charcoal burning

Charcoal is the preferred cooking fuel, this is made by slow burning of logs cut from the forests piled under soil and vegetation, further deforestation, but necessary for survival.






Nkhudzi Bay Full Primary School
Our cottage is at Nkudzi Bay where the children are fortunate, there is a school and several village pumps, some families walk miles for education and water.  Resources are very limited however the staff are dedicated and enthusiastic. Terri has been helping with English following the Malawi Primary School Syllabus.

This class has no desks but they are keen and happy

Pumping water for hand washing at school

 

This is Terri's Standard 8 (age 14+) English class

 First Visitors
Malawi is full of interest and surprises.  Our daughter Nicola and her husband Steve visited for 2 weeks; they travelled, kayaked, viewed game and enjoyed our stunning lake shore surroundings.  They left for Ethiopia and more of Africa; we were sorry to see them go and thoroughly enjoyed their company.

Crop production lecture for Nicola and Steve

Overlooking the African Rift Valley

We saw plenty in Liwonde Game Reserve

Life can be frustrating when power is intermittent, the weather extreme and infrastructure only average however Malawians are cheerful and polite, always a boost.
T and I