At least 336 adults in Mchinji District in Malawi have acquired basic literacy skills courtesy of the Circle for Integrated Community Development (CICOD).

The adult learners are smallholder farmers who underwent the eight-month coursework to learn how to read and write.

Speaking on Saturday, 26^th July, 2025, during the presentation of certificates at Maganga Ground in Traditional Authority Mlonyeni in the district, CICOD head of programmess Edward Thole said they will continue to support farmers to acquire literacy.

The initiative helps farmers to learn how to read, write and count to enhance their knowledge in various farming activities.

Thole said the organisation is working with more than 6 000 households, supporting them with different interventions on crop production as well as equipping them with reading and writing skills.

We are doing this so that they can increase their crop production, achieve food security and graduate [with] income.

After they graduate, we also support them with solar pumps, improved seeds and provide them with lessons on how they can use the equipment.

Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Director of Community Development Clotilda Sawasawa described adult literacy as the epitome of economic transformation.

In Mchinji district, we have high illiteracy rate, which is bad for the country’s development. With reading and writing skills, farmers will be able to keep records of their savings; hence making right decisions in business.

CICOD in partnership with Concern Worldwide is implementing the project with funding from Irish Aid.

This article was first published by Nation Publications Limited in Malawi