Farmers around Chikutu in Traditional Authority Kilupula in Karonga District are all smiles following the installation of a rice mill in the area which has cut long distances women cover to Kiwe Trading Centre for milling services.
In her remarks during the commissioning of the mill on Friday, Chikutu Farmers Cooperative secretary Tionge Sulumbu said people were covering an 18-kilometre hilly and bushy distance to Kiwe to have their rice milled.
“Women were exposed to gender-based violence [GBV] on the way to Kiwe. However, that danger is no more. In addition, the group is making money because we offer milling services to the community,” she said.
A group member, Johns Msukwa, said apart from the rice miller, the group also received banana suckers, tree seedlings and goats which have reduced poverty levels.
“People have constructed modern houses and managed to pay school fees for their children after selling the goats. We also formed a village savings and loans association where we save money,” he said.
A community member Esnart Mbukwa commended Sprodeta for the rice mill, saying apart from reducing the distance, the community is now enjoying the real taste of rice.
In an interview, Small Producers Development and Transporters Association (Sprodeta) Karonga district project officer Justin Kaunga said they support the cooperative to empower vulnerable populations to become food secure.
He said: “We are implementing the Empowering Vulnerable Populations through Climate Smart and Agroecological Practices project in the district through community-driven and sustainable initiatives.
“At Chikutu, we provided rice farmers with banana suckers, fruits seedlings and a rice mill to help in value addition.”
Kaunga further said Sprodeta also distributed 360 goats since 2024.
Sprodeta is implementing the project with funding from the Norwegian Church Aid and DanChurchAid
