10 Youth Trained in Macadamia Production
DAPP Malawi through the Macadamia Value Chain Enhancement project also known as has trained 10 youth, five from Thyolo and five from Mzimba districts, in Agriculture Production in order for them to work as Farming instructors for Macadamia nuts farmers.
The training that included both theory and practice took place at DAPP Mikologwe Vocational School (MVS) with involvement of SABLE Farming Company that produces macadamia tree seedlings.
The youth were selected from within the project’s target areas in the two districts and this is expected to continue throughout the project’s life span in order to establish knowledge about Macadamia nuts production among the farmers and after the project has phased out.
The idea of the project is to connect smallholder farmers and macadamia nuts producers to the macadamia nuts value chain in order to improve each link of the chain and increase the quantity of macadamia nut production and processing in Malawi. Additionally, the project also seeks to supply good quality macadamia nuts that meet the national, regional and EU Food Laws.
Between January and June 2017, the project has registered 3,000 farmers, 1,500 from each of the two districts (Thyolo and Mzimba) and has seen the distribution and planting of 86,000 macadamia seedlings.
The Going Nuts project is working with Sable Farming Company which has a solid experience in production of macadamia tree seedlings and provides a readily available market for macadamia nuts.
Farmers have been trained in sustainable agriculture practices that include conservation practices business management, pests and diseases control, field management, malaria control, Village Saving and Loan cash in and out, health and hygiene, back filling and macadamia tree training. Through these, farmers in the project have been equipped with knowledge and skills on how they can take care of their field as well as managing their day to day lives.
The Macadamia Value Chain Enhancement project is expected to improve the annual income of small holders and create jobs in macadamia nuts production and processing.
The training of the youth in agriculture production and in particular macadamia production will help sustain the project beyond its life cycle.
