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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