Germany interested in moringa, coffee

The Malawi Organic Growers Association (Moga) has disclosed that Germany is interested in Malawi’s organic coffee and moringa.

According to Stanley Chidaya, Moga executive director, the market for organic crops in Germany is around $96 billion and Malawi alone cannot manage to supply the required amounts.

In an interview in Lilongwe on Monday, Chidaya said Moga has so far mobilised 350 farmers in Lilongwe, 200 in Ntcheu and 100 in Salima to grow moringa and coffee.

Said Chidaya: “Germany requires three tonnes of moringa every three months but we can only send them 10 tonnes a year. We want all the farmers in the areas we are working in to have 3 000 coffee trees and 2 000 moringa trees by next year,” said Chidaya.

Chidaya also disclosed that some buyers from Germany are in the country and will be taken around the areas where organic crops are grown.

“The good thing with moringa and coffee is that once planted, a farmer will continue harvesting for over 30 years,” said Chidaya.

Farmers Union of Malawi President Alfred Kapichira Banda said the country’s GDP can only grow if more crops are exported.

“As a country we have all the natural resources required to grow various crops and what is required is to encourage farmers to diversify. If crops such moringa and coffee can be grown in large quantities then we will have alternative [exports] to tobacco and sugar,” said Banda.

Apart from Germany, other European, Middle East and American countries are also reported to be interested in Malawi organic crops.

The crops that are being sought after include macadamia, tea, moringa, baobab powder, beans, sesame, potatoes, legumes and bananas.