Fafotraj to help 1 500 women access capital

The Farmers Forum for Trade and Social Justice (Fofatraj) is expected to start a three-year project that will see 1 500 women accessing soft loans and markets for their produce.

Fafotraj executive director Calvin Kamchacha said the project targets women who are already in agribusiness, but are having problems to “break through”.

Fafotraj trains small-scale farmers in business management and in adding value to their produce.

“The project targets vulnerable, rural women who are already in agribusiness but are having problems to access financial resources to boost their businesses,” he said.

The project follows a study by Fafotraj and Oxfam Malawi which reveals that despite working hard to uplift their families, most women lack financial resources to boost their investments.

The study shows that women work long hours in their fields than men and that they account for 80 percent of workforce in household food production.

Despite women working hard, the study reveals that men, as heads of families, control all resources at home and this works to the disadvantage of women; hence, the project to empower them economically.

The three-year project is being funded by the Scottish Government and

 

The three year project is funded by the Scottish Government and is Fafotraj is implementing it in partnership with Oxfam.

 

The project will be implemented in the areas of traditional authorities (T/As) Simphasi and Mlonyeni in Mchinji, Chimutu in Lilongwe, Msakambewa, Nkukula and Dzoole in Dowa.

These areas produce a lot of legumes such as soya beans and groundnuts and vegetables which the project wants to promote.