Illovo donates 130 tonnes of maize

Illovo Sugar Malawi Dwangwa Estate on Friday donated 130 tonnes with a cost of K40 million to Nkhotakota district to be distributed to vulnerable households in the area.

Speaking during the handover ceremony at Nkhotakota Boma, Dwangwa Estate human resource manager Chrispin Chikwama said the donated maize will be distributed equally to the district’s six traditional leaders—Kanyenda, Mwadzama, Mwansambo, Malengachanzi, Mphonde and Kafuzira.

“The company decided to grow this maize after hearing reports of food shortage in most parts of the country including Nkhotakota. This was done to complement efforts by government to fight hunger in the country. Illovo therefore sacrificed part of its cane growing land in order to assist the vulnerable and other institutions in the district,” said Chikwama.

He added that some maize will also assist other vulnerable institutions such as the District Hospital.

Illovo, however, pointed out that maize is not planted in cane fields as it plays host to sugarcane parasites and this would result in poor harvests but for the sake of the vulnerable the company went ahead to grow it.

Receiving the donation, Nkhotakota District Commissioner James Kanyangalazi thanked the company for the donation.

Earlier, maize worth K30 million (about $75 000) was distributed by Nchalo Estate to surrounding areas.