Alliance One donates tractors to farmers’ clubs

Alliance One Tobacco Company says time has come for the country to consider adopting simple mechanisation to help boost the agriculture sector.

The move has also been tipped to help eradicate child labour which stands to choke the country’s economic growth as the international community has intensified its campaign against trading in tobacco produced with child labour.

This comes just days after the company gave out about K22 million (about $55 000) in awarding excelling farmers’ clubs with ‘walking tractors’ across its production areas in the country.

The move saw Zikutherani Club of Dikirani Zone make Mchinji proud by claiming the top prize for the district. Other tractors went to Kasungu, Lilongwe and Machinga, among other districts.

Speaking on Friday during the presentation ceremony held at Kapsyala Village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Mkanda’s area, Alliance One’s agronomy services administrator Heatherwick Nkhuzenje the move, part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) after the company admitted to have deposited huge profits in the just ended tobacco growing season, is also aimed at eradicating child labour in tobacco estates.

“Our company is not only interested in making profits, but we are also concerned in uplifting the welfare of those small-scale farmers who are vital in our success. We feel like we need to continuously motivate them in that regard,” said Nkhuzenje.

Dikilani Zone chairperson Evance Ganizani hailed the company for the gesture; saying the tractors will help consolidate the country’s economic growth.

Said Ganizani: “I think it’s high time we adopt mechanisation in our farming as a country, and this includes the small-scale farmers; but it will help eradicate the much detested child labour in the tobacco industry.”