Umodzi Wathu Cooperative Society Limited, a group of women with various professional backgrounds, says it wants to do more than dairy cattle farming in Chigumula, Blantyre.
The cooperative, which started in 2023 with K111 million grant from the World Bank-funded Agriculture Commercialisation (Agcom) project, outlined the plans on Monday when Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale visited the group to appreciate what it is doing.
Kawale said he is impressed with the group’s determination, adding that what they ventured into is in line with the country’s agriculture commercialisation drive.
“The ministry is impressed with what you are doing. Don’t limit yourself. Opportunities are there,” he said and encouraged the group to delve into technologies of making animal feed other than depending on maize stalks.
Umodzi Wathu Cooperative Society chairperson Sylvia Mataka, a former banker, commended the minister for the visit, saying it has motivated them.
She hailed Agcom project management for being accommodative and supportive to the cooperative, saying they plan to be making dairy products such as cheese and butter.
On his part, Blantyre district commissioner Alex Mdooko commended the women for forming a cooperative, which has created jobs for people in Chigumula and surrounding areas.
He said Blantyre District has 17 cooperatives engaged in various farming activities.
With the Agcom grant, the cooperative procured dairy cattle, water storage tanks, constructed feeding sheds, manure sheds, ponds and an office, among others.
Umodzi Wathu Cooperative Society Limited comprises 54 women, including pensioners, bankers, lawyers, accountants, university students and young women
