Marshal Papworth scholar reduces levels of parasites and disease outbreak in Malawi chicken farms

Graduating the Marshal Papworth Fund 10 week short course scholarship in sustainable agriculture at Harper Adams University in July 2019, Knight Mhango from Malawi has already implemented his plan to help control parasite and disease outbreak in local chicken farms through promoting the use of Neem Leaf Meal in chicken production.

Acting as a Lead Farmer with Self Help Africa, Knight said: “Whilst at Harper Adams University on my scholarship I developed a project that linked the use of Neem Leaf Meal with increased immunity to disease and parasites, as well as increased growth rates. On returning home to Malawi I have been able to work with Self Help Africa to run a Farmer Field School on this subject to 25 local chicken farmers.”

Knight continued: “I have been able to successfully share the livestock welfare and production skills that I developed on the 10 week course to result in significantly reduced disease outbreaks amongst these chicken farms, using communication and planning skills that I also acquired on my course to facilitate this.”

Knight has also been able to run training sessions on soil testing, crop rotations and dairy production, making use of the full scope of teaching he benefitted from at Harper Adams. Marshal Papworth Fund co-ordinator Sandra Lauridsen said: “It is really great to see Knight sharing so much of his education from our course and truly taking the Marshal Papworth message of helping others in growing out of hunger.”