31 Dec 2011

MEETING BETWEEN SATEMWA MANAGEMENT TEAM AND LOCAL LEADERS FROM THYOLO

Year 2011 has been closed in grand style.
Satemwa Tea Estate does meet with local leaders to try and appraise each other of the goings on as partners in development. Among issues discussed are social projects being undertaken by Satemwa within he surrounding villages and concerns from both sides.
This meeting was so unique because it was graced by the Satemwa Fair trade Joint Body members. Most workers on Satemwa come from the villages that border with the estate. While workers are benefiting directly from the Fairtrade premium, the JB also decided at their meeting to meet the leaders where they would talk about environmental issues, climate change and mitigating factors.
Among the leaders was the Senior Traditional Authority Khwethemule, his Group Village Headmen
and Village Headmen. What made this meeting to be so unique was the presence of the Satemwa General Manager who graced the occasion when he made a welcome address.
All chiefs were so exited such that the village headwoman and the Senior Traditional authority spoke highly about Satemwa Tea Estate and also about Fair trade. They were nso thankfull that a producer is able to consider spending on social activities that have a far reaching impact on local people's lives.
To crown it all it was announced that each leader would be given a bag of N.P.K Fertilizer. Hand clapping and ululations were heard from the room as they did not believe their ears.
They wished Satemwa Management well and wished the Fair trade community a prosperous 2012.
In the Video clip below chiefs perform a traditional thank you song/dance in appreciation of the fertiliser gift as a Satemwa Senior Manager   (in waist coat) joins in.

30 Dec 2011

RAINS AT LAST

Long at last rains have come.
The rain season in Malawi starts in October/November. This year has been unusual especially the Southern Region of the country, for it it has taken before rain starts falling. As a country that depends on rain fed agriculture, it was becoming unpredictable as to what was going to happen to most agribusinesses and the food security for most local Malawians. We received first rains in October and some people had planted maize which is the stapple food crop. November was dry and crops were beggining to wilt. December was unusually dry and hot leading to further wilting of the maize. Tea estates on the other hand have recorded lower crop for the same time the previous season.
We were beginning to lose hope as the month of December passed. Prayers for rain were being advocated by all.
The weather forecasts also became unpredictable as reports kept changing day in day out.
On 28th December 2011 information had it that some parts had received good rains. Today 29th December our area has also received what would be described as good rains. The weather forcast for Thyolo looks promising for the next 10-15 days. Thanks heavens.
Those who had planted and the crops have matured and wilted are uprooting (the most unfortunate part) and replanting. The negative side of this is that maize seed and fertiliser sourcing becomes more challenging to average malawians.
Others who planted some two weeks ago are applying fertilisers. Life is normalising.
Everybody's hope is that this rainfall parterncontinues till March when maize will be fully mature and tea yields increasing.
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30 Sept 2011

SPORTS AFTER WORKING IN A TEA FIELD

 It is not working always: Sitting in the office I was amazed to see tea pluckers from our Satemwa Division clad in a beautiful sports uniform. I went to talk to them. They told me one of their friends got injured and they were taking him to the clinic for treatment. I wanted to know further what it was that they were doing and they advised me that they were preparing for an inter divisional match between Satemwa and Mwalanthunzi.
These people were quite excited with the uniform. The sports uniform has been provided for using the Satemwa Fair Trade Premium. All Tea divisions have had a set of football kit. In addition the JB also made provision for shields to be competed for by both men and women.
Sportsmen from a tea plantation















 

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28 Sept 2011

THE SOLAR POWER GENERATED WATER PROJECT TAKES OFF

The Satemwa Fair Trade Joint Body are at it again, this time with a more sustainable project. As water continues to be amongst the most life hinging utilities, the JB have embarked on a project that will see water being pumped using solar power. When completed workers at Mwalanthunzi Division and the next Village will benefit from the project. Currently a bore has been sunk, a solar pump and solar panels installed plus a water tank on a raised stand. What remains is the piping and construction of a water kiosk with several points from where to draw the water.
This sounds quite advanced in a rural area all courtesy of Fair trade.

 Previously people from the area have been drawing water from a source that can be classified as semi protected. This will be a thing of the past. The other benefit is that there will be no electricity billing. It is hoped that should this project prove to be a success then some areas will be considered for such solarised water project.
In the pictures below the tank, the solar panels and a photo of women drawing water from a semi protected well.                                                        

    
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25 Aug 2011

SATEMWA FAIR TRADE DONATES MALARIA DRUGS TO THE CLINIC

Malungo Zii!!!!!!!!! (Meaning Malaria Free). This is the goal being pursued by all primary health service providers in Malawi.
In view of the impact of malaria to people, especially Satemwa workers, it was decided to make a provision for malaria drugs to the clinic in readiness for the oncoming rainy season when malaria cases are high.
the basis is that during the rainy season when peolple should be coming to work, they are mostly down with malaria or are absent from work attending to children, spouses or relatives down with malaria. This affects their levels of income.
Using the Fair trade Premium the Joint Body approved a request for drugs. This includes LA, (recommended drug for malaria) Paracheck, Pain Killers and other supporting drugs.
It is expected that all suspected malaria cases will be tested using the testing kits and the treated.
The expectation of the JB as per Mr. Kalowa (JB Chair), is that children will be given priority.
Speaking when she received the drugs Ellen Gama the Enrolled Nurse/Midwife for the clinic was all smile as this will make life better. She spoke highly about Fair trade regarding how people's livelihoods are being supported. She on the other hand wished Satemwa was only selling its teas through Fair trade so that such projects would be sustained.
A group of on lookers were patients waiting for treatment and I could see suprise and happiness on their faces and they could not help clapping for Fair trade.


In this photo, The JB Chairman (right) is handing over drugs to the Nurse (left in uniform) as a cross section of people watches.

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23 Jun 2011

SATEMWA PLANS TO PROVIDE SOLAR ENERGY GENERATED WATER TO THE COMMUNITY IN THYOLO

Climatic change continues to impact lives.One of such effects is intermittent power supply coupled with high electricity tariffs. These fused together makes provision of essentials to life such as water difficult. More so when the water generation is  is electricity dependent. As demand for water in communities around  Satemwa Tea Estate increases the Fair Trade Joint Body were approached with requests for additional boreholes to those sunk last year. Upon discussing the issue the Satemwa Management provided guidance to provide water using Solar energy. Currently plans are underway to sink a borehole and install a solar driven pump. This project is likely to benefit a considerable number of households within our Mwalanthunzi Division and the adjacent Mbeluko Village. Should this pilot project work, then a decision will be made regarding other sites.
It is anticipated that this will be sustainable as compared to electricity dependent systems.
 The project is courtesy of Fair trade premium funds.

In the picture below the supplier of Solar pumps is seen briefing JB and Satemwa Managers on how the system works





19 May 2011

SATEMWA JOINT BODY USES THE FAIR TRADE PREMIUM TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY POLICING SET UPS IN VILLAGES IN THYOLO

 As advance by Abraham Maslow in his motivation theories, a worker needs to be secure within his/her livelihood in order to perform better and happily. This concept is also included in the Satemwa Mission and Vision statement,''to have a workforce that is socially taken care of.
In this regard, Satemwa supports Community policing activities within Thyolo District. This is evidenced by the appointment of the Satemwa General Manager - Mr Emmott as in-charge of two community forum panels.
In addition to the Satemwa support thus the Fair trade Joint Body having been approached by the community agreed to support the two fora with security items such as push bikes, whistles, torches and shoes.
These were presented at a function held at the headquarters of Group Village Headman Maonga.
The function was witnessed by Thyolo Police Officials, traditional leaders and people from around Mphuka Traditional Authority, Satemwa managers and Joint Body members.
Group Village Headman Maonga was all smiles upon receipt of these items as a donation towards Community Policing. He said the bicycle will ease transport problems being faced by the committee when there is need to travel from one point to another to attend to local security issues in the area. He further thanked the Satemwa Management for coming up with the idea to go fair trade. As a former Joint Body member, he reiterated that he is aware that this is happening because the Fair trade tea consumer has continued to buy teas from Satemwa and wished if that continued so the plight of local Thyolo communities should benefit even more.
In his address, the Station Officer for Thyolo Police Station said he did not take this for granted. He attributed the gesture to the good neighborliness that Satemwa was being applauded for by all stakeholders and asked those present to extend their thanks to Satemwa management. Regarding Fair trade, he was so surprised to note that there are such consumers who have the passion of people who participate in the production of the products they buy. Wished if they could continue drinking tea from Satemwa.

In the Photo,the Joint Body Chairman (right) and the Thyolo Police Station Officer (left) are handing over the push Bicycle to Group Village Headman Maonga (centre)

 For more visit: www.satemwa.com
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14 May 2011

SATEMWA TEA ESTATE JOINT BODY DONATES 9 HOUSES TO SATEMWA PRIMARY SCHOOL (PLUS 6 TO OTHER SCHOOLS IN THYOLO

 12th May shall hardly be forgotten in the history of Satemwa Primary School. This day was when Teachers houses built using the Fair trade premium were officially handed over to the Satemwa Community through the school committee. Present at this function were among others: Mr. Cathcart Kay - Managing Director for Satemwa Estate, The Village Head woman Chidzinja, the Fair trade liaison officer for Malawi- Mr Aubrey Nyasulu, members of the joint body, school committee members and the teaching staff for the school plus Satemwa estate Managers.To express happiness, the function was characterized by traditional dances such as Gule wamkulu and Manganje.
In his speech the school committee chair said the community has expectations from the teachers now that they are going to be well hosed amongst them being: Government will send better and well qualified teachers to the school so that pupils of the school can benefit in return and be able to speak English which is the number one mod of business communication.
The Fair trade PSR for Malawi thanked the Satemwa MD for his commitment in ensuring that they live up to the Satemwa Social Responsibility program. He informed those present that for things to get to where they are today there is more to it. He gave an example of what the producer goes through in order to become Fair trade certified that enormous costs were incurred in the process.He rated Satemwa to be amongst the best Fair trade players.Finally asked the public to continue supporting Satemwa in order to sustain the Fair trade market.
The Headmaster of the school Mr. Mahere was all smiles as his teachers, including himself will now be staying in better houses. on behalf of other schools he thanked the Satemwa management and the Satemwa Joint Body for the Houses.
''Chip" briefly gave a background to Satemwa's Fair trade undertaking. He hinted that the company believes that ''No man is an island". meaning no one can work in isolation. He said that the Tea bush is a magical machine but does not work on its own. It requires people to work on it in order to derive required outcomes from it. It is with this background that Satemwa takes pride and commitment to support it workforce and the surrounding community, socially. He gave credit to the hard working workforce who have made all this possible to happen.
Went on to say that this idea can only be sustained if the Tea market was growing. He told the gathering that 1kg of made tea makes about 400 cups and wished more tea cups of the Satemwa tea were drunk thus more premium money and more such projects as the one being inaugurated.
He said his main ambition is to see to it that the nation especially children from the surrounding community get better education. As such he encouraged teachers to be dedicated and ensure English was given priority.

The Teacher's Houses project has been rated as one of the best premium funded projects by the Joint Body



In the picture, Mr Cathcart Kay, MD for Satemwa is cutting a ribbon to mark the official opening of Satemwa Teachers' Houses

For more log on to www.satemwa.com
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6 May 2011

FAIR TRADE PREMIUM FOOD SECURITY SUPPORT - LEADS TO BUMPER MAIZE HARVEST

It is maize harvesting time in the Southern Region of Malawi. In Thyolo people are now busy harvesting their maize from gardens. But the story is a bit different around Satemwa Estate especially to those who applied a basal dressing of 23:21:0 + 4S fertiliser sold out to workers of Satemwa Tea Estate at a slightly subsidised price.
One worker (Mr.Chimwala) I spoke to had this to say, ''Fertiliser are fertilisers but not all fertiliser are the same''. Several other workers are all smiles and thanks to Fair trade due to such livelihood support projects. The meaning here is that this particular product was quite different from other fertilisers of the same brand. The JB made sure to procure the fertiliser from a reputable source hence the utility realised was quite rewarding. comperatively people have harvested more than their last year harvest and the attribute is going to serveral factors: 1. The timely acquisition of the basal fertiliser, 2. The quality of the fertiliser. "We have managed to harvest more maize due to Fair trade support", is what most workers are saying. The issue here is that fertiliser is the most scare and unaffordable farm input to local farmers.Sometimes one would get it later than required, when the maize has passed the stage requiring such a product. Since maize is a fast and short period growing crop by the time one raises funds to buy it. The provision of it to workers had eased the pressure and enable them to apply fertiliser timely while they softly repaid for it. For this to be sustained there is need for a continuous fair trade market so the premium continues to come.

For more, log on to:www.satemwa.com

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