AIMC Farm (Alfred, Ian, Martha, Cara)

Hi

Yesterday evening was quite the experience and one that I know I will never see again unless I come back to Malawi.  

I will start off by saying this country amazes me the people, the environment, MicroLoan…the list goes on!

I have managed to inhabit the tight space of Alfred and Hlupe's office here at the MicroLoan headquarters.  They both dedicate their work on the MicroVentures Program here is Malawi!  

Elaine, the designer from the UK mentioned to me that Alfred had a farm of his own that him and his wife started and were managing.  She really waned to see it and I did too!  Yesterday I asked Alfred if he would not mind taking us at 3:00 PM to the establishment.  Little did we know..we were the first from MicroLoan to see his project!

Alfred has started a venture with a past board member of MicroLoan Foundation UK, Ian Marshall.  He has joined with Alfred and his wife, Martha to help them begin their large scale farming project.  Martha worked for the Malawi Ministry of Agriculture for ten years and then held Director of Operations at MicroLoan Foundation here in Malawi for five years before she retired to the farm.  Alfred currently works at MicroLoan in their MicroVentures program and has used the skills he has learned and best practice to start a venture of his own. 

Alfred, Elaine, and I hopped in the truck and headed to his house down the road from the office to pick up Martha!  We did not know we would be pulling up to the supplier of maize seed to Malawi Seed Co.!  Their were women and children employed to de-seed the maize that would be sold to Malawi Seed Co. The pile was enormous.  Martha explained that they have signed a contract with Malawi Seed Co. and the seeds they would sell to them would be sold across the country as next years maize crop.  Martha said they employ more than 100 women who are in need of collateral to help support their children and different fees associated with living.  

Maize Pile at Alfred and Martha's House

Local Women Working to Earn Living 

The Children Help Too

This already is a great venture and I had not even seen the farm!  After some small talk with villagers (Alfred translating) we jumped into the car with Martha for a journey only few will experience in Malawi!

The farm was down a dirt path with scattered houses along the roads edge.  It was about 10 miles from their house and the ride was a lot of fun.  We learned so much about their lives.  One thing that touched me was Martha and Alfred had five children but I soon learned their daughter was killed in a mini bus accident just weeks before I had arrived so they were both still coping.  That as very sad but we quickly jumped to another topic and before you know it we had arrived at the farm!

Alfred and Martha

We were instantly greeted by the farm manager and Alfred and Martha hopped out to begin their tour of their chili and paprika crop!  Alfred explained how they have signed contracts with two large companies but did not disclose the names.  He then explained how they have 22 permanent employees who are paid a monthly salary of 6,000MWK ($39USD) which is above Malawi's minimum wage and the three managers receive 10,000MWK ($66USD) a month!  Their employees are given permission to move their entire families on the farm so their are a bunch of huts located in a designated area of the land where the women, men, and children stay.  Alfred said they plan on constructing permeant houses like the one pictured below once they have more funds.  They have currently erected 4!  Martha told me each family is given their own plot of land to also grow their own crops to support their family.  If they so happen to grown chillies or paprika they will buy them off of them, allowing them to make more money than their normal salary which is quite nice.

Chilies an Employee Grew to Sell Back to Farm for Extra Money for their Family

Permanent House for Full Time Employee

Martha and Alfred showed us the drying station where all the chillies were.  She explained how each is sorted following the drying process.  The chillies are sorted into grade A, B, or C depending on their color.  The more red color the chili has the more desirable the crop.  We were also able to see some paprika but the entire crop was not ready for harvest yet.

Martha

Chili Drying Stations

Grade A, B, C

Following, Alfred brought us through the fields.  He explained how when they cleared the land they left large tress as when the leaves fall they add nitrogen to the soil, enhancing the crop!  They also had a few sections of peanuts, sugar cane, and pigeon peas growing.  I tried the sugar cane and it was awesome.  Now I know what the green stick coming out of children's mouths are!  He then brought us over a hill where the reservoir was located.  They invested a lot of money in this so they had ample water for production.  He said during the rainy season (November-March) the reservoir fills up and will provide enough water supply for crop growth during the dry season.  He also mentioned that there have been hyena, leopards and antelopes spotted at the site.  He told me that Kasungu National Park was about 10 kilometers away!  I am currently planning a day visit with Gerald their in a few weeks!

Chili Plants

Alfred Giving Elaine and I Sugar Cane

Paprika Plants

The Reservoir  

Tree Left in Middle of Field for Nitrogen Enhancement to Soil

On our walk back to the village we were greeted by the village children.  Martha explained that they were all going to school which was very good.  They loved taking pictures with Elaine and I.  After every snap shot we would bend down and show them and they would all giggle and scream, it was such a great site.  They showed their houses, toys, dogs, chickens, and brothers and sisters.  Martha had said three of the employees are without husbands as they were ditched for other women.  She pointed out a boy holding his baby sister and explained how the father had just left them.  She also said the boys mother had just given birth to twins, one is the girl in white on her brothers back below.  She felt awful for them, as did we, because she knows it is going to be very hard for her, as she has to manage work while raising her family all alone.  

The Boy in Center With One of His Twin Sisters.  His Father Left Him and His Family for Another Woman!

JD Memorial!  Now Accepting Applications!

Before leaving Alfred gave us a bag of dried chillies that Elaine and I shared with Maggie who plans to incorporate them into our upcoming meals at the guesthouse.  Martha also had the children sing a song for us.  It was about a rabbit that runs away and the children need to work together to find it!  I have posted in my youtube account.  See for yourself!  Children Singing Rabbit Song on AIMC Farm

We left just before sunset and showered up when we returned.  We celebrated Peters return to the UK last night!  He left this morning and Nina and Elaine will part in the coming days.  Maggie made a special meal of rice, beans, and vegetables.  I am so used to the food now and am really liking it….a lot.  I know I will miss it….but that statement may be too early to make!  Everything is locally sourced if not produced right in the garden of Maggie's back yard.  Cannot get any fresher than that!  John purchased a nice bottle of red and white wine for the celebration and MGT's (Malawi Gin & Tonics) were had by all!

When I awoke this morning I purchased some fabric at the market with Elaine.  Some of the women in the MicroVentures school are making me a pair shorts and a shirt!  Cannot wait to see the final product!

I am headed to Lilongwe on Saturday morning with Gerald as we have a meeting early Monday with an organization doing an assessment of our clients doing ago growing.  I will be staying at the lodge and will not have to worry about internet anymore as Alfred is picking up a sim card stick at the airport today!  The stick can be used to get wireless internet all across Malawi and it is very inexpensive!

TIA! (This is Africa)

Stay tuned!

Jimmy