Head of International Development for the External Affairs Directorate in the Scottish Government, Joana Keating has commended the Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM), a relief and development arm of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) for reaching out to vulnerable people in the rural areas through its interventions.
Keating was speaking Mapira Village, Traditional Authority Chimutu in Lilongwe where she visited and appreciated interventions undertaken by CADECOM through its ‘Women Access To Markets and Adaptation to Climate Change Project’ which is funded by the Scottish government through OXFAM.
Keating said she was impressed with the way the project is being implemented particularly noting that it is transforming people’s lives especially women.
“I am impressed with what you are doing in this community. I would like to encourage you that you continue doing this good work,” she said.
OXFAM Country Director,John Makina commended CADECOM for working to the expectation of his organization and the Scottish government as a donor partner.
He said the services rendered by CADECOM are crucial in transforming the livelihood of vulnerable Malawians.
During the visit, Keating alongside OXFAM officials appreciated interventions under the Village Savings and Loans, Soy Production, Small Scale Agro processing, Capacity Building on Access to Markets Concept and Climate Change Adaptation measures.
Azilei Shumba,a soy farmer said the project has benefited her a lot because she is able to access all basic necessities out of farming.
“CADECOM provided us with startup soy of Nasoko variety) through our clubs and this is on a pass on scheme. We were also oriented on the attributes of this variety, for instance its high market value and resistance to drought,” she said as Keating alongside officials from OXFAM toured her Soy garden.
She said she anticipate to harvest 20 bags of soy from her one and half hectors of land and later sell them thereafter use the money to purchase Iron sheets and some pay school fees for her children.
CADECOM’s Project Officer, Chimwemwe Phiri said communities around group village headman Mapira have also been trained in small scale processing of soy seed so as to ensure high retains as well as increase the nutritive value of the seed.
“Through the community based training and exchange visits, farmers have been equipped with knowledge to process coffee, milk, doughnuts and other foods from soy. This has greatly increased their household social-economic status as some are able to sell these products locally while at the same time contributing to good nutrition at household level due to the value addition,” said Phiri.
He said throughout the program intervention, CADECOM ensures that issues of gender and HIV are mainstreamed across.
Phiri said communities have been oriented on the need to ensure that there are no gender disparities during implementation and that both men and women are involved in decision making.
The project targets a total of 5,000 poor women from Traditional Authority Chimutu and Masula in Lilongwe.