MALAWI – Malawian Kasungu-based non-governmental organization K2 Tigwiranemanja Aids Support Organisation (K2-Taso) has invested US$23 million in a milk processing plant to boost dairy product availability in the district.
The NGO’s production manager, Alfred Chimwenje, revealed that the plant, pending tax clearance by the Malawi Revenue Authority, has a processing capacity of 1,000 liters per hour.
Chimwenje made the announcement during a tour by the Kasungu District Council’s Agriculture Service Committee, led by council chairperson Mwambilaso Mbedza and Senior Chief Mwase, to assess various agricultural initiatives in the district.
He stated that the plant expects to process 11,000 litres of milk daily, producing yoghurt, ghee, cheese, and other dairy products for local and external markets.
Currently, the plant’s catchment area in Kasungu East houses over 200 dairy cows. The organization plans to increase cattle numbers through a pass-on arrangement.
Phillip Mkanakufa, a member of the Mlatho Milk Bulking Group, expressed readiness to supply milk for processing but highlighted the need for more veterinary officers to manage the health of dairy cows.
He asked agriculture authorities to ensure adequate animal health and livestock development officers, noting that dairy cows are prone to diseases.
Bryson Zephania, chairperson of the council’s agriculture service committee, pledged support for the initiative, emphasizing the district’s shift from tobacco to diverse agricultural activities.
Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim noted that 18.8% of Malawi’s population is malnourished and that local production covers only 65% of the country’s dairy needs, with the remainder met by imports.
She highlighted the potential for reducing import dependence and improving food security through such investments.
Tvinnereim pointed out that milk intake in Malawi increased by 18%, from 26.5 million litres in 2020 to 31.4 million litres in 2021, with an estimated 16% growth to 36.4 million litres in 2022.
Additionally, the number of smallholder farmers delivering milk to dairies rose by 11%, from 7,980 in 2020 to 8,890 in 2021, with a projected 10% increase to 9,800 in 2022.
Employment in the dairy sector also grew by 16%, from 403 to 468 in 2021, with an estimated 11% increase to 520 in 2022.
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