NASFAM lauded for raising groundnuts quality standard bar
NASFAM is rebuilding Malawi groundnut sector with the aim to increase business through production, processing and marketing innovations
United Nations Development Programme, Deputy Resident Representative in Malawi, Challa Getachew captured during the event (Photo - Courtesy of NASFAM)
LILONGWE, Malawi (Planet Defence) - The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has lauded the National Smallholder Farmers Association of Malawi (NASFAM) for successful implementation of the ‘Rebuilding the Malawi groundnut business – a structured, smallholder-led, from farm to fork, solution’ project implemented under the Malawi Innovation Challenge Fund (MICF).
One of the key outputs of the project was mechanization of some critical operations of NASFAM commercial division aimed at reducing drudgery, improve productivity, enhance efficiency and reduce aflatoxin contamination in groundnuts. The project also aimed at increasing groundnut business through production, processing and marketing innovations.
UNDP, Deputy Resident Representative in Malawi, Challa Getachew said NASFAM has delivered on what the project aimed to achieve as they are producing high quality products resulting from the mechanization process.
Getachew said this on Thursday, during a tour of NASFAM processing facilities in Lilongwe where he appreciated what has been achieved during the project period.
Getachew said what NASFAM has done will set quality standards in Malawi groundnuts value chain market.
Getachew was pleased to note that the project has also provided a strong gender dimension as 47 percent of smallholder farmers who benefited were female headed households hence having a social economic benefit as part of resilience building among households.
In his remarks, Head of Programs at NASFAM, Dr. Richard Petautchere, explained the partnership has seen increase in member yields by 60 percent, enabling smallholder farmers to earn higher income.
“We have just concluded the certification process for fair trade. This unlocks profitable European markets with relatively stable prices for smallholder farmers. Most products have a fair trade minimum price aimed at providing smallholders with a safety net against falling market prices and allowing long-term planning,” explained Dr. Petautchere.
He added that, the fair trade premium, an additional amount of money paid on top of the agreed fair trade price, is a tool for smallholder farmers to improve the quality of their lives and communities which is the core business of NASFAM, to develop the business capacity of farmers so that they improve their lives and communities.
Additionally, NASFAM has invested in new equipment through the project which has increased processing capacity by 65 percent. This had enabled successful development of new groundnuts products which will go on the market soon as value added products.
Dr. Thamas Duve, Director for KFW Development Bank, Southern Africa, who are the financiers of the project, said it was very complicated to invest in private sector and have linkage to smallholder farmers and the market. He was however, glad to see the results achieved so far.
The project run from 2021 to 2023 and has benefited over 1,800 smallholder farmers who participated in production of groundnuts through an in-grower and out-grower approach.
Source: NASFAM social media platform