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Aftrak WINS $1,000,000

The Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy

The Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy incentivized entrepreneurs who have ideas for solutions to advance progress toward UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7: Ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

The aim of the Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy was to reward innovators who expand access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity in Africa. Energy access is a key driver for long-term economic growth and shared prosperity. The prize offered $2 million in prizes and additional benefits, including a $1 million grand prize for the winning team and $1 million in additional prize money. Participating teams also received access to networking, training, and other resources.

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Deep bed farming

In many parts of Malawi – under a few centimetres of topsoil – there is a compacted layer of rock-hard earth, hardpan. Plant roots, water and air cannot penetrate the hardpan – making the soil unfit for agriculture.

Where water can percolate into the ground, it can be stored long after rain has stopped falling. In areas of hardpan, this doesn’t happen. Instead, the water runs off the surface, taking much of the healthy topsoil with it. Devastating soil erosion can destroy soil fertility.

In 2016, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimated that the average national soil loss rate in Malawi was 29 tons per hectare per year. This helps to explain why Malawi is one of the world’s poorest countries – and why hunger is so common.

DBF offers a significant approach to addressing this challenge.

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What is Deep Bed Farming?

Deep Bed Farming is a three-stage process that combats the devastating impacts of hardpan.

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Step One – Destroy the hardpan

The compacted hardpan is broken up with a pickaxe – delivering powerful and immediate benefits:

  • roots, water and air can penetrate the soil

  • soil erosion is curbed or halted

  • deep and healthy organic soils start to develop

Step One

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Step two – Create the deep beds

These are designed to:

  • minimise water runoff and maximise water retention

  • prevent a new compacted layer developing

The deep beds are never walked again, preventing the return of hardpan, and a ditch runs alongside each ridge, collecting and damming rainwater.

Step two

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Step three – The results

Tiyeni’s methods have helped many farmers in Malawi to achieve food security - and, to date:

  • the increased crop yields have been consistent, year on year

  • after the first laborious pickaxing, there has been no need to break up the hardpan again - farmers enjoy no-till farming

DBF has been shown to increase maize yield from about 1.7 tonnes per hectare to over 8.0 tonnes per hectare. Where maize is grown with other crops, DBF increases the yield of both.

Step three 

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Revolutionizing Agriculture with Tailored Tractors

Empowering Rural Communities with Clean Solar Energy

Boosting Crop Yields for Food Security

Fostering Sustainable Development

Increasing Smallholder Incomes

Building Resilient Rural Economies

Come, Join Us!

 

As together, we disrupt the carbon footprint and pave the way for a COOL PLANET.

Join the journey and strive for impact with us

We’re committed to help you and your business on your mission towards sustainability. Reach out to see how Varaha can can help you.

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Disrupting Carbon Footprint

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