Marina Mwale

A Malawian farmer who revolutionized sustainable agriculture through innovative crop rotation techniques

Marina Mwale (1905-1972) was a visionary agricultural innovator from what is now Malawi. Growing up in a subsistence farming community, she witnessed the devastating impact of soil depletion caused by colonial-era monoculture practices. Through decades of experimentation beginning in the 1930s, she developed groundbreaking crop rotation systems that integrated traditional knowledge with scientific principles. Her method of alternating maize with legumes like pigeon peas dramatically increased soil fertility while reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers. By 1950, her techniques were adopted by over 80% of local farmers, creating a sustainable food production model that remains influential today. Mwale's work laid the foundation for modern agroecology practices, earning her a UN Food Prize in 1968. Her story is detailed in the Wikipedia entry and explored in the documentary The Soil Whisperers.