MALAWI – In rural Malawi, small-scale dairy farmers have seen remarkable improvements with the adoption of a solar-powered milking system, an innovation that simplifies daily milking, water access, and even household lighting. 

The initiative, led by researchers from the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), drastically reduces milking time while also easing water collection challenges. 

Farmer Robert Mbendera, who used to spend 80 minutes milking a cow, now takes only eight to ten minutes. 

“Now it takes me between eight and ten minutes to milk the cow,“ he said, noting the substantial time saved daily.

The system includes a solar-powered submersible pump that channels water from a well to a storage tank, which then supplies the household with water via taps. 

For Mbendera, who previously walked long distances for water, the installation has been transformative: “I don’t have to go far to fetch water for the milking process because the system is supplying water right here on my yard.”

Implemented with support from Malawi’s National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST) under the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI), the project is designed to aid smallholder farmers in maximizing productivity and efficiency. 

In addition to powering the milking machine, the system also provides lighting, a much-needed convenience since farmers typically milk their cows twice daily, at dawn and dusk.

 Lead researcher Grivin Chipula emphasized the importance of this added lighting: “The lighting was very necessary as farmers milk the cows twice — at dawn and in the evening.“

Following the success of the pilot, Malawi’s NCST is keen to expand the project. 

Mike Kachedwa, Chief Research Services Officer at NCST, highlighted that smallholder farmers involved in the trial have reorganized into a cooperative to maintain and manage the equipment. 

“With government support under the Science and Technology Fund, NCST is geared to upscale this project, subject to the availability of funds,” he explained.

Additionally, the project has had a positive impact on milk quality, with no rejections reported during market testing throughout the trial period. 

This improvement is partly due to the system’s ability to pump water directly to the farm, reducing contamination risks during transport. 

A policy brief on the research revealed that the technology also freed up time for farmers, allowing them to invest in other income-generating activities and contributing to community development.

Looking to the future, LUANAR researchers recommend that the government offer subsidies and tax waivers to make the technology accessible to more farmers. 

For Mbendera, who lives in an area without access to the national power grid, the benefits extend beyond the farm.

 “Now I have electricity to power my television and light the home,” he shared, adding that he recently acquired a smartphone thanks to the consistent power for charging. 

The solar-powered milking system has not only improved his productivity but has also enhanced his family’s quality of life.

Kachedwa believes the initiative has the potential to reshape Malawi’s dairy sector and rural communities by giving smallholders the resources to improve production.

 “The dairy industry plays a significant role in providing employment and contributing to GDP,” he noted, adding that this project offers a pathway for socio-economic advancement for smallholder farmers who form the backbone of Malawi’s agriculture.

With growing interest among farmers in Mbendera’s area, LUANAR researchers and NCST hope the solar-powered system can bring sustainable change to Malawi’s dairy sector, providing a model for other regions.

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