How Malawian council is reshaping its science sector

The Malawi National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST) is changing the country’s scientific landscape.

Since becoming operational in 2009, they have grown from a coordinating body into the driving engine behind Malawi’s most significant scientific achievements.

Under the leadership of Gift Kadzamira, the director general, the council successfully influenced national policy, as in 2022, the establishment of a dedicated science and technology fund came to life because of the work the council is doing.

This move has transformed how research is conducted across the country as it ensures that research aligns with national priorities and directly tackles the country’s most pressing challenges.

They prioritse bringing together academia, government, and private sector partners to create solutions with real-world impact.

Improving the lives of people and communities

The NCSTs have shown that African research institutions can drive meaningful change when they align academic excellence with community needs.

From fly waste fertilisers boosting food security to solar systems transforming rural livelihoods, from biogas plants providing clean energy to modern kilns improving fish processing.

Each innovation reflects the NCST’s broader influence in creating a research ecosystem that serves Malawi’s people.

Here are excerpts from some of the research from the council published in the SGCI newsletter and website.

The “magic fertiliser” discovery

The council’s research on the magic fertiliser from fly poo was one of the stories that trended in various media platforms including SciDev.Net.

The ‘magic fertiliser’ is a product of a project by the Mzuzu University in partnership with the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI), which is aimed at strengthening Africa’s science granting councils and NCST.

Researchers at the university investigated the use of black soldier fly waste, known as frass, rice husk biochar, and coffee ground mixture to produce fertiliser.

The biochar is mixed with black soldier fly frass, which is rich in protein, calcium potassium, and other minerals, to create the fertiliser.

It then undergoes laboratory analysis for selected physical and chemical properties. The product is then left to dry before being packaged for storage or use.

This protein-rich, mineral-packed mixture is boosting crop yields, helping farming families move from subsistence to prosperity.

Modern fish processing

With funding from the Science Granting Councils Initiative through Malawi’s National Commission for Science and Technology, researchers launched a project in 2024 to reduce these losses and improve the livelihoods of processors.

They developed modern fish-smoking kilns, which are clean, enclosed systems that retain heat, consume less firewood, and are easy to operate.

James Banda, principal investigator on the project, said the kilns are efficient at removing moisture and significantly reduce smoking time.

“The kilns can process 100 kg of fish in two hours,” he said.

Banda said the kiln was designed to collect fish oil that drips out during smoking – an added by-product that processors can sell or use, increasing the value of their work.

The kiln controls heat and smoke distribution and ensures the fish are evenly smoked, resulting in better taste, texture, and a longer shelf life.

Solar-powered farming

Researchers at the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) trialled a solar-powered milking device and water pumping system at Mbendera’s farm in the Dedza district of central Malawi.

His milking device dramatically reduced milking time.

Following the successful pilot project, Malawi’s National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST) is now pushing to expand the initiative to transform small-scale dairy farming across rural Malawi.

Biogas innovation

A biogas plant in Malawi has transformed the lives of mothers, girls, and children in local communities by reducing reliance on firewood and providing them with clean and sustainable energy.

Only ten per cent of the Malawian population has access to electricity while the majority of the population relies on biomass in the form of charcoal and firewood, which has severe environmental, health, and deforestation impacts.

Researchers at the Ndata School of Climate and Earth Sciences of the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) decided to tackle this problem by building a facility that would convert waste into biogas.

They set up the Tsangano biogas plant in November 2020 to address energy poverty and improve livelihoods in surrounding communities.

Ethanol production

Malawi is working to increase its ethanol production through public-private partnerships in a bid to generate cheaper, cleaner transport fuel.

Ethanol, which is made by breaking down the starch in maize kernels into sugar and fermenting it, is less polluting than petrol, producing lower carbon dioxide emissions.

However, it also relies on an adequate supply of crops, which can be a challenge, along with high production costs.

Kadzamira says the country’s Energy Ministry is working with local and international companies to expand production of the biofuel for vehicles.

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Published on 4 June 2025

Written by Jackie Opara