Vernon Machado, from Goma near Misewu Folo in Chikwawa District, abandoned cotton farming as prices kept falling amid skyrocketing cost of seed, chemicals and labour.
“Cotton farming was our livelihood, but the zeal dwindled because of low returns,” he says.
Machado switched to sorghum, a staple in the Shire Valley, but the switch only made his family poorer.
Similarly, Bertha Malefula of Masinja Farmers’ Club rues the “tough years”.
“We toiled in vain,” she says. “For years, cotton yields kept falling, as many growers could no longer afford recommended seed, chemicals and fertiliser.”
However, the two resumed cotton farming last year.
They are among hundreds of farmers who received seed, chemicals, protective wear and other equipment from Illovo Sugar (Malawi) plc through the Thriving Community Foundation.
The sugar producers support 379 cotton farmers in 28 clubs and about 450 growers in two irrigation schemes.
“They reached out to us and that was the start of our renewed journey of cotton growing, which reignited smiles,” says Machado.
The foundation supports the rebirth of cotton farmers in communities surrounding Nchalo Sugar Estate in Chikwawa District.
Thriving Community Foundation chapter manager Jacke Strong says cotton yields and farmers’ enthusiasm are on the rise.
The revival started with farmers in Goma Bester Village and surrounding communities, almost 30 kilometres from Ngabu Ginnery.
“We are only targeting communities around the estate,” she says. “These are not beneficiaries, they are contracted farmers.”
Illovo, which budgeted K1.7 billion for the initiative this year, buys seed cotton at K1 400 per kilogramme for export.
“Farmers are selling to Illovo, according to their contract. They also receive an export premium of K50 per kg after Illovo sells the lint in South Africa,” says Strong.
However, the firm anticipates a 30 to 50 percent loss on the project, but hopes to break even and remain “an expanding socially focused project that maximises returns and support for farmers”.
However, farmers like Machado have a reason to smile—better prices and improved livelihoods.
The foundation plans to reach 500 cultivated hectares (ha) next year, more than double the 240 ha covered in this year’s export trial.
Strong narrates: “Last year, we averaged around 1.9 tonnes per hectare across nine sites. This year, we are using the same seed, hoping for the same average yield. But we’ve dramatically scaled up, so we are expecting about 800 000 tonnes of seed cotton across Illovo and smallholder fields.”
She expects the export trial to catalyse stronger linkages on the international market.
“The aim is to qualify our farmers’ production, and our own, under sustainably grown cotton certification schemes to achieve a socially and environmentally beneficial value chain, but also fetch premiums on the export market, says Strong.
Illovo aims to integrate the cotton export chain into the Associated British Foods family as a long-term off-taker.
Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale terms the rebirth of cotton production “a truly significant milestone” in Malawi’s agricultural transformation.
“This isn’t just about cotton; it is about our shared commitment to revolutionise agriculture, strengthen our national economy and ensure the benefits of growth reach every Malawian, especially our resilient farmers. This cotton project is a shining example of what we can achieve when we unite under a common purpose,” he said during a field day at Goma, Traditional Authority Ngabu in Chikwawa.
Illovo’s Nchalo Estate interim manager general manager Ricky Pillay and the company’s interim managing director Kondwani Msimuko say the project has reignited interest in cotton growing and the company’s cordial relations with surrounding communities.
“We are on a journey of creating a value chain and we want to have more tonnage,” says Msimuko.”
