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With fertilizer and feed prices rising year after year, smallholder farmers in Nkhotakota need alternatives they can produce themselves. Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae are one: the larvae convert organic waste into animal feed containing 35–50% protein, directly replacing expensive fishmeal and soybean meal. The leftover residue (frass) works as organic fertilizer. The flies occur naturally in Malawi, the system can be built from local materials, and it costs almost nothing to run.Local business partnerships

We want to test whether this works in practice in Nkhotakota. This is not an NGO project. There are no workshops, no per diems, no ceremonies. It is a practical trial with a small budget and a simple question: can BSF farming work here? If it works, it grows. If it doesn’t, we learn why.

Who We Are Looking For

Someone from Nkhotakota who is well connected in their community, practically minded, and not afraid of getting their hands dirty. You know the fish farmers, the market vendors, the people who keep pigs and chickens. You are the kind of person who builds things, tries things, and figures things out – not someone who writes reports about other people doing things.

You should have:

• Strong roots in the Nkhotakota community – people know you and you know who to talk to
• Practical experience with farming, fish keeping, poultry, or livestock
• A hands-on attitude – this job involves building wooden bins, handling food waste, and checking on insect larvae regularly
• A working smartphone with WhatsApp for photos and communication
• Honesty and self-motivation – you will work largely independently

Helpful but not required:

• Background in agriculture, aquaculture, or extension work
• Experience working with or training farmer groups, women’s groups, or cooperatives
• Basic carpentry skills

What You Will Do

• Learn about BSF farming from documentation we provide, and through your own trial and error – this is a pilot, not a proven recipe, and we expect you to figure things out as you go
• Recruit a small group of 3–5 local participants (ideally women or youth who keep fish or poultry) to run the pilot with you
• Source local materials and organise construction of simple rearing bins and a breeding cage
• Establish a BSF colony, manage it, and work alongside the participants so they learn to do it themselves
• Spread the word – show neighbours, explain the concept, invite people to look, build local interest
• Stay in regular contact with us: WhatsApp updates with photos twice a week, a short monthly summary, and a weekly phone call

What We Provide

• MWK 50,000 per month for your time
• We cover the cost of all materials (bins, mesh, tools) and small payments to participating farmers for their time during the trial
• Documentation on BSF farming adapted for local conditions – not a rigid manual, but a starting point. Much of this will be learning by doing
• Remote support via WhatsApp – we are available to discuss problems, answer questions, and help you think through challenges

If the pilot works, we plan to extend the project and expand your role

What Success Looks Like After 3 Months

A functioning BSF colony that is producing larvae. A small group of farmers who can operate the system on their own. Honest records of what worked and what didn’t. We do not expect perfection – we expect effort, honesty, and a colony that is alive. No final report with lessons learned. Just working bins and people who know how to use them.

• Learn about BSF farming from documentation we provide, and through your own trial and error – this is a pilot, not a proven recipe, and we expect you to figure things out as you go
• Recruit a small group of 3–5 local participants (ideally women or youth who keep fish or poultry) to run the pilot with you
• Source local materials and organise construction of simple rearing bins and a breeding cage
• Establish a BSF colony, manage it, and work alongside the participants so they learn to do it themselves
• Spread the word – show neighbours, explain the concept, invite people to look, build local interest
• Stay in regular contact with us: WhatsApp updates with photos twice a week, a short monthly summary, and a weekly phone call

• Strong roots in the Nkhotakota community – people know you and you know who to talk to
• Practical experience with farming, fish keeping, poultry, or livestock
• A hands-on attitude – this job involves building wooden bins, handling food waste, and checking on insect larvae regularly
• A working smartphone with WhatsApp for photos and communication
• Honesty and self-motivation – you will work largely independently
• Background in agriculture, aquaculture, or extension work (helpful but not required)
• Experience working with or training farmer groups, women’s groups, or cooperatives (helpful but not required)
• Basic carpentry skills (helpful but not required)

• Strong roots in the Nkhotakota community – people know you and you know who to talk to
• Practical experience with farming, fish keeping, poultry, or livestock
• A hands-on attitude – this job involves building wooden bins, handling food waste, and checking on insect larvae regularly
• A working smartphone with WhatsApp for photos and communication
• Honesty and self-motivation – you will work largely independently
• Background in agriculture, aquaculture, or extension work (helpful but not required)
• Experience working with or training farmer groups, women’s groups, or cooperatives (helpful but not required)
• Basic carpentry skills (helpful but not required)