Alice Kachere

As NASFAM board chair, she has participated in numerous fora such as the Southern Africa Confederation for Agricultural Unions (SACAU) in South Africa and Eastern and Southern Africa Farmers’ Federation (ESAFF) in Tanzania. When it comes to following her passion, it seems there are no borders for Alice Kachere. Albert Sharra spoke to her.

Alice Kachere has been involved in farming for the past 10 years. Her affiliation to the National Smallholder Farmers’ Association of Malawi (Nasfam) has seen her travel countrywide and worldwide, representing Malawian smallholder farmers at agricultural events. She has come face to face with the United Nations Secretary General Ban Kin Moon and negotiated for women’s participation in the global agricultural sector.

 

Can you please introduce yourself?

I am Alice Kachere, a smallholder farmer. I grow groundnuts, soya, maize, beans and sweet potatoes.

 

I was born in Lilongwe on 25th September, 1978. At the age of six, I lived with my sister in Zomba where I did most of my early primary education. I later returned to live with my parents in Lilongwe where I was brought up in a stable, Christian home.  I am the youngest of nine children.

 

At the age of 19, I fell pregnant and gave birth to my first son in 1989. I returned to school at Bembeke Secondary School when he turned one year old. This is where I attained my JCE certificate.

 

I failed to complete my secondary school because I lost my brother in 1991 who used to pay for my school fees.

In 1993, I got married to a soldier who later left me.  In 1995, I married a teacher but he passed away in 1999. Three years later, I started farming and joined NASFAM in 2003.

 

What were your parents doing when you were growing up?

My parents were farmers. Although sometimes I lived with my sister, I helped with farming activities whenever I was in the village. I started farming while with my parents and farming has remained my passion

 

How have your parents moulded you into who you are today?

My parents were most supportive. Their hard work in providing for us put me at an advantage in knowing that one can earn a comfortable living through farming.

 

How did you find yourself in a farming career?

I farmed all my life. My late husband also farmed. When I saw what we achieved through small-scale farming, I was convinced to establish myself as a farmer. I was also motivated by a few successful farmers in my village that started off small but made it big.

 

What is your take on smallholder farming in Malawi? Do we need to do more?

I feel that government is trying, especially when fertiliser prices are subsidised, but we cannot rely solely on food crops to send our children to school. Market prices are unpredictable, so livestock farming is an alternative we should consider for additional income. 

 

You were recently selected a member of the World Farmers Organisation’s women committee. Can you share the story with us?

I attended a meeting in New York where the UN secretary general was present. I impressed with my inquiry on the UN’s preparedness to assist smallholder farmers in developing countries. The World Bank later called for a meeting with the WFO President and pledged support for the organisation. In November 2012, I attended a conference in Rome where the general assembly requested WFO to create a women’s committee, hence my involvement.

 

This is a big responsibility and a huge opportunity for me and women farmers throughout the world. I will be part of the solutions towards food security, climate change, the farmer’s place in the food chain and ensure women’s voices are heard at international fora.

 

How were you selected and what was the criterion?

It is my participation and contributions to the many meetings that led to my selection into the committee. I feel it is my hard work, commitment, the spirit to speak out for myself and my fellow smallholder farmers that earned me such recognition.

 

How beneficial is this appointment to you and Malawi?

WFO works toward transforming lives of the world’s farmers. Malawi will benefit because we believe in giving women the chance to take leading roles in our societies. There are capable women in the villages that are not given the chance to lead. My appointment will contribute to improving such situations in the world.

 

I have learnt that you were a NASFAM board chairperson. Tell me more about this job.

It was one of the best responsibilities, being part of the representatives of all NASFAM smallholders at national level. Beneficiaries are all NASFAM members countrywide.

 

I started serving in December, 2008 and a lot happened during my tenure.  I improved benefits for the eight member board. Our board achieved a 50-50 gender representation.

 

NASFAM came first in the national Agricultural Fair in 2009.  We also received a US$ 100 000 YARA Green revolution award presented to us in Oslo, Norway, for doing very well in representing women and incorporating green revolution tactics in our farming activities. Further, I was the second woman to serve as board chairperson since its inception in 1997.

The year 2009 saw more women join our existing clubs and associations countrywide.  In 2010, I went to the World Price Centre in New York where I met the ambassador of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation who commended us and our organisation for being part of the women taking the leading role in eradicating hunger.

NASFAM changed me as a farmer and the lives of smallholder farmers in the country. Women were inspired to take leading roles in our farming affiliations. That is also why even today, the board chairperson for NASFAM is a woman.

 

How have you impacted the world in a way that you shall live to remember?

The affiliations I had in decision-making podiums are some of the things I am proud of. I am involved in a few of the educational committees in my village, thanks to the training in leadership from my NASFAM days.

 

Tell us more about your family and the support they give you

My father passed away in 2007 and my mother is 82 years old. I have three biological children. My first son completed his education and is in South Africa. My second is a girl who is a teacher. My last born child is in Form Four. I also live with my niece, an adopted son who completed his Form Four and my cousin who helps with farming.

 

What legacy would you leave in your community?

I will leave two main legacies: One as the first woman ever from my village to be a NASFAM board chairperson. They will remember me for being one woman who was found in so many organisations and unions. I do not have any thoughts of re-marrying. I want other women to know and believe they can stand on their own, married or not. All we need is the right effort in our innovativeness.

I was able to build my own house, have some livestock and send my children to school. I stopped relying on subsidy and buy my farm input in cash.

 

Are you satisfied with what you have achieved so far?

Not yet. I have come a long way and I still have a long way to go.

Where do you want to be in the next decade?

I want to have more livestock and grow as a farmer. I do not like the stereotypes of villages not having beautiful independent women. I want to change that perception.

Who is your role model?

Eda Jere, a Zambian woman who was board member of a regional farmers’ organisation and in the committee of Zambian farmers’ union. She rears dairy cattle, local chickens and also farms on a large scale. I wish to be as established as her because she is an elderly person whose works are unbelievable.

What do you do in your free time?

I enjoy spiritual unions; I go for Bible study and take part in the church choir. On Sundays, I meet a few women to help them access loans.

What kind of people do you associate with?

My fellow farmers, especially men. The men help me get a broader perspective on what to grow, when to grow, and what is the best crop for which season. I believe this adds a positive charisma to my farming.