NGO motivates farmers to repay loans on time
Villages in Partnership executive director Liz Nelson says communities can become food-secure if farmers have access to loans to buy farm inputs.
She said this on Tuesday in Zomba during her organisation’s 2024 Revolving Loan Recovery Competition award ceremony.
Since 2013, the non-governmental organisation (NGO) annually gives out loans to farmer clubs to finance maize and rice farming in their schemes and repay after harvesting.
Nelson said the loans seek to improve food production in the district.
“The clubs that repay their loans fast are awarded cash and T-shirts to appreciate their hard work and determination,” she said.
During the awards, Tiyamike Farmers Club emerged the winner after repaying their loans in time, receiving an award of K250 000 followed by Chisomo and Mwayiwathu farmers clubs which received K150 000 and K100 000 each.
Tiyamike Farmers Club chairperson Roben Mtute said during the 2023/24 loan disbursement window, the club secured K910 380 and paid back in April before the initial closing month of July 2024.
He said previously, farmers from their club were struggling to buy farm inputs due to lack of capital.
“Do not underestimate the essence of paying back loans in time,” said Mtute.
The NGO supports 384 farmers from different 34 farmers clubs where 23 clubs are in maize and 11 in rice production in the district.
