By Shadrek Mweso, LCC-4

A MUST first-year Manufacturing Engineering student, Innocent Mandili, has scooped second position in the ICT Association of Malawi (ICTAM) AgriTech category award for his striking innovation in agriculture. 

ICTAM held its annual general meeting and the Lakeshore Conference Innovation Awards from November 20 to 23, in Mangochi.

During the event, it awarded innovators in the National Bank of Malawi (NBM) sponsored ICTAM Innovation Jam. 

For winning the award, 19-year old Mandili, who is also CEO of MI Technologies and Innovations, went away with a K1 million cheque, courtesy of NBM.

To win the award, Mandili submitted a locally-designed and developed eco-friendly and cost-effective automated organic fertilizer production system that converts agricultural wastes like maize husks and sugarcane rind into high-quality fertilizer.

In an interview, Mandili said his innovation is sustainable and reduces reliance on chemical fertilizers, thereby promoting environmental conservation, and addressing waste management challenges, making it ideal for smart and sustainable agriculture in Malawi.

Mandili, who was also the winner of this year’s SADC CEANGAL Project Local Innovation award for developing a Thermo El Stove device primarily designed for cooking while simultaneously generating electricity, was excited for adding a new award on his shelf. 

He thanked MUST and everyone for their support. 

“I feel so excited, honoured and humbled for winning this award. It motivates me to keep driving innovation for sustainable agriculture in Malawi," he said.

"This achievement is not just for me but for everyone who supports positive change."

This is the second time a student/students from MUST have won this prestigious award. 

In 2023, a team of eight fourth-year Computer Systems and Security Studies won it for designing and developing a secure Internet of Things (IoT) based chicken farming monitoring system that allows farmers to monitor the health of their birds in real-time. 

This development aligns well with spirit of the recently launched MUST 2024-2030 strategic plan and responds directly to Agriculture Productivity and Commercialization pillar of the MW2063.