US in aid of small business development
The US Embassy deputy chief of mission to Malawi Michael Gonzales has inaugurated a bakery and an oil press project, a product of the US Ambassador’s Self-Help Fund, in the Northern Region.
The inaugurations, according to a statement from the embassy, were held at Salawe Bakery site, in Nkhatabay and at Jenda Rural Growth Center in Mzimba.
In June 2013, the U.S. Ambassador’s Self-Help Fund gave $1 990 (K700 000) to Salawe Women’s Group for the purchase of two drum ovens, various baking utensils and start up materials.
“The group is now operating a clean and efficient baking facility at Salawe in Nkhata Bay. Through this project, the group is baking scones, bread, cakes and many others items to generate income for their own family needs as well as to pay school fees for the orphans in their care,” says the statement.
The project is directly benefiting 22 households and over 2 500 community members.
In August the same year, the United States African Development Foundation (Usadf) gave $5 500 (over K 2.4 million) to Umoza Smallholder Farmers Association for the purchase two 6YL-100 oil expellers.
Currently, the group is operating the Jenda Sunflower Processing Center in Jenda, Mzimba and through this project, the group is providing a local market for the sunflower crop, boosting the sale price of the crop and adding value to the crop by processing it into cooking oil.
The group sells oil in bulk to farmers’ associations and produces animal feed with the cake by-product.
Since 1966, the U.S. Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund addresses urgent development needs at the local community level and to demonstrate US interest in the welfare and self-help endeavors of local communities throughout the country, according to the statement.
Usadf has since 2011 continued to support income generating activities throughout the country.
