Branching out to create a real future rooted in sustainability
Published Date: 08 August 2009
by Charles Henderson
ON THE day of the festival, at 4am I set off down the dusty track in the jeep.
I am a taxi driver, waiting for 90 minutes at the trading post before my passengers show up. Eventually, eight women and one man pack into the vehicle.
The delay is caused by overcast weather. Few in Malawian villages have a watch, and the sundial instinct is usual for timekeeping.
People often point a finger at the sun's anticipated position when fixing a time. In Africa, a couple of hours here or there are unimportant.
The villagers are among about 2,000 celebrating a festival organised by Janeemo, a Scottish-funded energy and food initiative in the Chikwawa district of Malawi.
Janeemo promotes three trees: jatropha, neem and moringa, grown as boundary fencing to protect crops and control soil erosion. The seeds, leaves, flowers and bark are then used for fuel, food, medicine, soap and fertiliser.
The benefits are many. By using a home-made lamp powered by jatropha oil, students can extend study periods. It is a mosquito repellent and can save scarce foreign exchange, normally used to import paraffin. Neem is a source of sustainable firewood that can be legally traded while allowing forests to regenerate. Moringa is full of natural nutrients that may be used to improve health. More than 2,000 farmers in Malawi have signed up for Janeemo – a number that's growing fast.
Malawian energy and environment minister Grain Malunga arrives at the festival at 11am with the other dignitaries, in a cavalcade of seven cars. In his first engagement since his appointment after the recent election, the minister is well informed and keen to learn. He looks round the market and chats to farmers hosting the demonstrations – including oil-pressing, soap-making and lamp-making. On show is a biogas generator, used by the school to provide light and heat for cooking.
Meanwhile, the Janeemo singers, rappers and dancers jump up on trailers, their voices crackling joyously through the sound system.
Environmental collaborations with countries such as Malawi are important for Scotland. This country produces 0.20 per cent of the world's carbon emissions, but its influence on the big picture of climate change is leadership to other developed countries, and helping the developing world solve its environmental issues.
At the festival, a cross-section of authorities and interest groups are keen to demonstrate their support. Clifford, the master of ceremonies, introduces the speeches. We hear from the district commissioner, a chief of the village chiefs, the chairman of Rab food processors (who is hoping to buy moringa powder from the villagers), a forestry civil servant, and the minister.
Mr Malunga offers his personal thanks to Scotland for its support to Malawi, and speaks warmly about the relationship between the two countries. He says Malawi faces challenges of deforestation and unsustainable demand for energy, adding: "The three trees of Janeemo and projects like it will help tackle these problems. They will restore a degraded environment, and people will reap the benefits at the same time.
"We are looking into all renewable energy sources. Biofuels have a bad reputation. This project will help ensure not all biofuel is seen in the same light. The biogas project is great too. Every village can produce energy from the droppings of its own cattle."
Of all the African countries, Malawi holds a particular place in the Scottish psyche. Ever since Livingstone explored the "warm heart of Africa" and the missionaries took the religious word to villages, Scotland has had a relationship with this beautiful country.
Today, this includes £3 million of aid a year, under the International Development Fund. Traditionally, this has helped provide support to projects including nutrition, health and empowerment of women.
Grant Davidson of Scotland's Macaulay Institute, who is directing Janeemo, explains the legacy Scottish involvement will have. "We are kick-starting something that will ultimately be run by the community. We are developing relationships with businesses to ensure there is an income for the Janeemo products and local enterprise flourishes."
As to the potential for the Janeemo project to be introduced elsewhere in Malawi, Scottish environment minister Stewart Stevenson explains that this is a joint decision.
"Priority areas are agreed with the government of Malawi and resources targeted accordingly to meet the aims and objectives in our co-operation agreement," he explains.
Encouragingly, Mr Malunga says: "I see this initiative as one of hope and positive change. We should continue to support practical initiatives such as Janeemo that have potential to improve our lives.
At a personal level, especially since I come from the district, I will start planting Janeemo trees around my house and encourage others to follow suit."
At the end of the day, I give a number of men and women a lift home. As we near their village, they burst into spontaneous song and their children run to meet us.