|
|
OVOP Newsletter volume 7 produced.
30 June 2010
|
 |
|
OVOP Cooperatives Review Activities of 2009/10 and Plan for 2010/11 at Capital City Motel in Lilongwe
29 - 30 June 2010
The Annual Review Meeting was officially opened by the Principal Secretary for Industry and Trade on 29th June 2010. The meeting drew 57 group members from OVOP cooperatives that are producing different types of products from 17 districts. Also at the meeting were 26 Assistant Cooperative Liaison Officers from district councils. The objective of the meeting was to review the activities that were conducted in the year 2009/10 and to plan for the year 2010/11. It was held jointly with the officers to share experiences on various projects that are being implemented in the districts. It was emphasised during the meeting that, for the country to develop, the rural communities must be empowered and that OVOP cooperatives are key to improving the economic status at household level through value-adding activities.
Major issues that were discussed during the meeting included the importance of buying shares by cooperative members and the importance of producing quality products and quantities large enough to satisfy the local and international markets. Critical amongst the discussion was the handing over of management of OVOP Antenna Shop to OVOP cooperatives. It was highlighted that the OVOP Secretariat will facilitate the formation of the Marketing Union, whose functions will be to monitor shop operations, to give necessary guidance to the OVOP Secretariat for full handover to the cooperatives. In the interim, a committee was selected during the meeting including members from Hara Rice Cooperative, Bwanje Rice Cooperative, Mkondezi Wine Cooperative, Mapanga Honey Cooperative, Kunthembwe Nsinjiro Cooperative and Mitundu Agro-processing Cooperative, who will be meeting on a quarterly basis from September 2010 to discuss shop management issues.
|
| |
|
OVOP exhibited products at the 6th Annual General Meeting of Farmers Union Organisation
16 June 2010
OVOP exhibited products at the 6th Annual General Meeting of Farmers Union Organisation and the Commodity Workshop for Eastern and Southern African Region Agriculture at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe.
|
|
|
OVOP Radio ends
10 June 2010
A series of 26 OVOP Radio Programmes on Malawi Broadcasting Cooperation (MBC) Radio 1 ends.
|
|
|
OVOP Board meeting
9 June 2010
OVOP Board meeting on TECHTOP draft report on OVOP Programme Review.
|
| |
|
Task force meeting
4 June 2010
Task force meeting on marketing of gemstones in Malawi.
|
 |
|
Zambian Delegation from the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry visits Malawi
2 - 4 June 2010
The OVOP Secretariat coordinated the activities of a visiting Zambian delegation from the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry of Zambia. The delegation was led by Dr Bulet Nsemukila, the Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade in Zambia. Other members included Mr Andrew Chipwende and Mr Windu C. Matoka of the Zambia Development Agency, Ms Shupi K Mweene of the Private Sector Development Reform Programme in Zambia, Ms Banji M N'gandu from the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry and Mr Nebart Matatiyo of the Zambia High Commission in Malawi.
The objective of the Zambian delegation's visit was to learn from their Malawian counterparts in the Ministry of Industry and Trade, specifically the implementation of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) policy, Cooperative Management, Public Private Partnerships and One Village One Product (OVOP) Programme activities in Malawi. The Secretary for Industry and Trade highlighted the Malawi Government's development agenda through the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS). The nine priority areas that are being emphasised by Government were outlined, including infrastructure development, integrated rural development, education, science and technology, youth development, public health, climate change, mining and industrialisation. Activities included presentations on SMEs Policy and Cooperative Management, OVOP programme activities, a round table discussion on Community Savings and Investment Cooperatives initiative through the COMSIP programme and visits to a groundnut oil processing factory at Mitundu and the OVOP Antenna shop in Area 3, Lilongwe.
The Permanent Secretary of Commerce, Trade and Industry of Zambia and the entire delegation appreciated the role the Ministry of Industry and Trade is playing through the implementation of the SMEs policy, cooperatives management, public private partnership and One Village One Product programme in Malawi. Lessons were also learnt on the promotion of community savings through the interaction with the Community Savings and Investment initiative with COMSIP. Experiences were shared between the visiting delegation and their Malawian counterparts and both parties were eager to learn from each other.
|
 |
|
OVOP Groups Train and Register as Cooperative Societies
May - July 2010
In its untiring effort to help OVOP groups to operate in a conducive business environment, a total of 42 groups were trained on Cooperative Member Education. This is a process of building the groups' capacity as they prepare to form cooperative societies. Some of the topics covered during the training include the role of Government in cooperative development, the concept of cooperation, differences between a cooperative, club, association and company, historical background of cooperatives, formation and registration of cooperative societies, qualification for membership, cooperative principles, objectives and functions, sources and uses of cooperative finances, responsibilities and rights of cooperative members, the importance of a cooperative to a member, the community and the nation as a whole.
Of the 42 trained, 27 groups were registered as cooperative societies. The training sessions were conducted in collaboration with the Cooperatives Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The groups that benefited from the training include Chisenga Honey Processors, Livingstonia Honey Processors, Katawa Pig Farmers, Bibinyu Poultry Association, Katete Support Group, Limbanazo Sugar Cane Processors, Tivwanenge Fruit Processors, Mitundu Soya Group, Tithandizane Bee-keeping Association, Tithokoze Business Group, Khama Lipindula Oil Processing, Mdunga/ Kasiya Soya Association, Ben Tchauya Honey Processors, Galu Wapananji Mango Processing, Nambuma Milk Association, Dowa Piggery Association, Chimwang'ombe Honey Processors, Mchinji Boma Milk Processing, Mtenjemanga Honey Processing, Chinangwa Cassava Starch Processing, Tilimbike Lime Processing, Mankhamba Oil Processing, Kachere Juice Processing, Mfumba Honey Processing, Kwezeni Meat Processing, Chigwirizano Oil Processing, Mtadeya Tomato Processing, Chisomo cha Mulungu Fruit Juice Processing, Mwanza Prison Honey Processing, Tiyanjane Cotton Ginning, Namadzi Honey Processing, Likangala Meat Processing, Mgwirizano Meat Processing, Kulurira Juice Processing, Tilipo Oil Processing, Mnembo Tomato Processors, Tiyese Tomato Processing, Chiwamba Root and Tuber Cooperative, Thekero COMSIP Oil Processing, Mgwirizano Tomato Cooperative and Takondwa Women Soya Milk Processing.
|
 |
|
OVOP Cooperatives Participate in 22nd Malawi International Trade Fair, Chichiri Trade Fair Grounds, Blantyre
21 - 29 May 2010
His Excellency Ngwazi Professor Bingu wa Mutharika officially opened the 22nd Malawi International Trade Fair on 22nd May 2010 under the theme "Deepening Trade through Partnerships". The theme was chosen to reflect the primary focus on enhancing partnerships among Micro, Small and Medium enterprises between domestic and international counterparts.
The OVOP secretariat facilitated the participation of 16 OVOP groups, including Bvumbwe Dairy Farmers Cooperative, Zakudimba Producers Cooperative, Khumbo Oil Refinery, Kunthembwe Nsinjiro Group, Bwanje Rice Cooperative, Mkondezi Winery, M'bwazi Rice Cooperative and Mapanga Producers, Processors and Marketing Cooperative, Mkondezi Winery, Tithokoze Lime Makers Cooperative, Bakali Ceramics and East Bank Pottery, Mzimba Gemstone Cooperative, Gemstone Association of Malawi and Malawi Women in Mining Association (MAWIMA).
The products exhibited were OVOP kirombero and faya rice, cassava flour, nsinjiro and packed groundnuts, pure honey, pasteurised milk, cheese, chambiko, dried and fresh vegetables, moringa powder, banana wine, lime, groundnut cooking oil, ceramics, gemstones (polished and unpolished).
OVOP groups made approximately MK524,840.00. Individually, each OVOP group contributed to the total sales as follows:
The Fair also accorded OVOP cooperatives an opportunity to interact with the public and interested business associates. In total, 35 business deals were made, including four for cassava flour, one for banana wine, five for OVOP rice, one for moringa powder, four for lime and 18 for gemstones.
In general, all cooperatives indicated that their participation at the 22nd Malawi International Trade Fair was successful. "It was an opportunity for us to access markets for our products", they said.
|
| |
|
OVOP Secretariat collects new lime packaging material
20 May 2010
OVOP Secretariat collects new lime packaging material for OVOP groups in lime processing.
|
| |
|
OVOP Board Task Force meeting
13 May 2010
OVOP Board Task Force meeting on the OVOP Programme Review report by TECHTOP Consultants.
|
|
|
OVOP coordinated the Stakeholders meeting
11 May 2010
OVOP coordinated the Stakeholders meeting on Marketing Strategy for Gemstones in Malawi at the Ministry of Industry and Trade Conference Room, Zimbabwe High Commission Building.
|
 |
|
Sustainable Poverty Alleviation for African Countries: The Malaysian Experience
9 - 25 May 2010
Assistant Cooperative Liaison Officers for Chitipa and Mchinji District Councils joined colleagues from other African countries on a course on Sustainable Poverty Alleviation for African Countries. The course was jointly organised by the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and Institute for Rural Advancement (INFRA) of the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development.
The objective of the course was to enable the participants to understand rural development policies, strategies and programmes, to share information, best practices and lessons learnt in rural development programmes and projects, particularly the empowerment of the poor through income generating programmes and value added projects, to promote collaboration and networking among key personnel in rural development and poverty alleviation from the participating countries. The course content dwelt on land development, value addition, micro-credit, cooperatives, rural development institutions and development of the country action plans.
Major lessons learnt dwelt on the contribution of the cooperatives in sustainable rural development and poverty alleviation. It was indicated that lower income rural communities or individuals, especially vulnerable women, can contribute to economic development through shared vision in well organised cooperatives and that cooperatives are important, specifically for:
- Opportunities such as information, education and training.
- Access to loans for different investments, which translate into household incomes.
- A form of collateral when accessing loans from the bank.
The three major approaches learned for value addition efforts in rural agricultural programmes were:
- Industrial processing of raw materials.
- Existence of government agencies to coordinate processing and marketing.
- Application of Good Agriculture Practices.
- Well organised training courses in food value chain on hygiene, quality control, packaging andlabelling.
It was also learned that food processing has many benefits which can help to improve the living standards of rural people. Micro-credit should be administered by the registered local Non-governmental Organisations, which would provide loans to poor households for the implementation of Income Generating Activities.
Participants felt the course was very dynamic, particularly in areas of increasing productivity, improving quality of life of farmers, provision of amenities to rural populations, service delivery, capacity building, the importance of effective monitoring and evaluation systems and above all the benefits of positively changing one's mindset.
|
|
|
OVOP secretariat stocks new bottles
29 April 2010
OVOP secretariat stocks new wine bottles, jam jars and honey squeeze bottles for OVOP groups.
|
 |
|
9th Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) observed the progress of OVOP
22 April 2010
The 9th Joint Coordinating Committee Meeting (JCC) was held on 22nd April 2010 at the main conference room in the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The meeting was chaired by Mr N H Kumwembe, the Principal Secretary for Industry and Trade, and was widely attended by representatives from Bunda College of Agriculture, Small Enterprise Development of Malawi (SEDOM), Malawian Entrepreneurs Development Institute (MEDI), Malawi Export Promotion Council (MEPC), Malawi Investment Promotion Agency (MIPA), DEMAT, Malawi Industrial Research and Technology Development Centre (MIRTDC), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and related ministries including the Ministries of Finance, Agriculture and Food Security, Local Government and Rural Development, Development and Cooperation, Gender, Land and Labour.
On the main agenda were reports from two task forces: one for OVOP Micro Finance Institution (MFI) scheme and the other for the JICA-OVOP successor project, progress report on activities of the OVOP Programme since the last JCC held in August 2009, JICA support activities up to the end of project period in September 2010 and a report from the Project Terminal Evaluation Mission for the JICA-OVOP project. There were no serious concerns about any of the reports in the meeting. As a way forward, the meeting suggested the OVOP Secretariat should draft an action plan for the sustainable operation of OVOP's Antenna Shop on a commercial basis.
|
| |
|
OVOP participation in the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair
20 - 24 April 2010
OVOP participation in the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. OVOP exhibited sample products through the Malawi Export Promotion Council.
|
 |
|
Assistant Cooperative Liaison Officers (ACLOs) Trained as Trainers in Food Processing and Business Management at Malawian Entrepreneurs Development Institute (MEDI)
12 April - 13 May 2010
The Training of Trainers for Rural Business Advisers/Assistant Cooperative Liaison Officers (ACLOs) was conducted at Malawian Entrepreneurs Development Institute (MEDI) by facilitators from the Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO) of Tanzania. The training was co-financed by the Commonwealth Secretariat and Malawi Government and drew participants from all district councils and two trainers from MEDI.
Several topics were covered to meet the set objectives, including training methodologies, technology choice (food preservation and methods), food hygiene and safety, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) (basic aspects), costing/pricing with respect to food processing, personal entrepreneurial characteristics, business information analysis and market research, introduction to business plans, cash flow projections and sources of funds, profit/loss and balance sheet and record keeping, food packaging, business licensing/ownership and food legislation, food business licences and certification, introduction to traceability and bar coding, strategic management and organisation of meetings, gender and enterprise development, effects, cure and preventive methods of HIV/AIDs and monitoring and evaluation.
The participants had hands-on practical experience in making several products from agricultural raw material, including wine making, nutritious flour processing, soya flour processing, soya milk processing, soya drink processing, peanut butter making, cassava starch processing, groundnut oil processing, sunflower oil processing, tomato sauce processing, tomato paste processing, tomato juice processing, tomato jam making, mixed fruit jam making, marmalade making, fruit juice making, dried vegetable processing and honey processing.
In addition, participants visited two food processing companies at Kanengo in Lilongwe, namely SEBA Foods soya processing company and Kapani Quality Meat products processing company. The visits provided an insight into food processing factory situations to the Assistant Cooperative Liaison Officers. A food processing and business management trainer's manual was provided to the participants as a reference book during upcoming training programmes with the communities.
Participants' skills were enhanced through the cross-section of topics that were covered during the training.
|
 |
|
Terminal Evaluation for JICA - OVOP Project Support
April 2010
The Project Terminal Evaluation Mission was despatched from 5th to 23rd of April 2010, six months prior to the end of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-One Village One Product (OVOP) Project in September 2010. The mission consisted of five members, including three officials from JICA Headquarters, one JICA expert from Uganda and one consultant. The mission visited some OVOP cooperatives in the three regions of Malawi and stakeholders such as technical institutions, financial institutions and related government ministries. The evaluation was conducted based on the Project Design Matrix (PDM) of the project and five evaluation criteria such as relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability.
The evaluation identified that the project objectives were fairly achieved in terms of institutional development and human resource development. Examples included OVOP's group assessment system, technical support system, financial support system and marketing support system. In addition, the evaluation ranked as "high" the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and impact on the criteria, while sustainability was ranked only as "relatively high" due to some unforeseen conditions in the future.
The mission made some recommendations for further development of the OVOP Programme including continuous improvement of training courses organised by the OVOP Secretariat, active involvement of traditional leaders in the OVOP sensitisation process for local communities, facilitation of the MBS certification process to OVOP products and sound collaboration with Micro Financing Institutions (MFIs) that have relaxed conditions for loan facilities. For the JICA Malawi/JICA-OVOP project side, the mission recommended conducting a socio-economic impact survey of the communities surrounding OVOP cooperatives for further understanding of OVOP's impact in Malawi. It was suggested that the survey be conducted by a JICA Short-term Expert on rural development before the end of the project period.
The results of the evaluation were reported at the 9th Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) and the report was signed as a minute between the Principal Secretary for Industry and Trade and the leader of the mission. Based on the results, JICA Malawi and Government of Malawi (GOM) are planning to establish the second phase of the JICA-OVOP project which would start from the beginning of 2011.
|
 |
|
Gemstone Miners trained on Cutting and Polishing of Gemstones
March - April 2010
The One Village One Product (OVOP) Programme approved the funding of Mzimba Gemstone Cooperative for the cutting and polishing of gemstones such as aquamarine, rose quartz, amethyst and black tourmaline.
The cooperative, which is composed of 50 small-scale miners, has been supported with cutting and polishing machinery by the OVOP Secretariat. As an added advantage, the training programme also invited four participants from the Gemstone Association of Malawi, four participants from the Malawi Women Miners Association (MAWIMA) and one participant from Operating Jewelry.
The training programme was facilitated by expatriates from India identified by Apollo International who are experienced in gemstone cutting and polishing. Methods used were lectures, demonstrations and practical sessions. During the 30 days of the training programme, 22 participants were able to use, maintain and operate the machines. The participants were also able to cut various shapes popular in the gemstone industry.
|
|
|
JICA Expert leaves Malawi
30 March 2010
Mr Tomonori Uchikawa, JICA Expert (Business Development), leaves Malawi after a four-year contract with JICA's OVOP Project.
|
| |
|
JOCVs leave for Japan
11 March 2010
Ms Miki Kasano (Food Processing) and Mr Takumi Higashi (Design), JOCVs leave for Japan after a two years' voluntary service at OVOP.
|
|
|
JOCV Design joins OVOP Secretariat
10 February 2010
Mr Masahiro Hayama, JOCV Design joins OVOP Secretariat for two years' voluntary service.
|
| |
|
Initial consultation meeting
1 - 5 February 2010
Initial consultation meeting with Nsanje, Chikwawa, Blantyre, Mwanza, Phalombe, Zomba and Chiradzulu on new projects.
|
 |
|
Women Entrepreneurship Development Skills Enhanced
26 January - 26 February 2010
The Assistant Cooperative Liaison Officer for Lilongwe underwent training in Support on Women Entrepreneurship Development for African Countries, which was held in Japan from 26th January to 26th February 2010.
It was reported that several ways are used to promote Women Entrepreneurship Development in Japan, lessons which can be learnt for Malawi. The activities include green tourism, which promotes rural urban networking, culture preservation, where cultural sites are preserved and promoted as tourist attractions, traditional music, which could be used as a source of employment and scenery industry such as local processing could be promoted for local consumption with the vision to penetrate urban markets. In addition, the role of microfinance as one way of reducing poverty to women and identification of farmers markets were also highlighted. Skills learnt are expected to be imparted to women enterprenuers in OVOP cooperative societies.
|
|
|
Intensive orientation course
26 - 29 January 2010
Intensive orientation course for Assistant Cooperative Liaison Officers from all district councils at Capital City Motel in Lilongwe.
|
|
|
OVOP stakeholders brainstorming meeting
20 January 2010
OVOP stakeholders brainstorming meeting with JICA for OVOP successor project.
|
|
|
OVOP representatives participate in the AGOA Strategy Development Meeting
13 January 2010
OVOP representatives participate in the AGOA Strategy Development Meeting at the Ministry of Industry and Trade Conference Room, Zimbabwe High Commission Building.
|
| |
|
TECHTOP Consultants conduct
January - March 2010
TECHTOP Consultants conduct OVOP Programme Review consultancy.
|
| |
|
OVOP Board Task Force met on selection of consultants
6 January 2010
OVOP Board Task Force met on selection of consultants for the OVOP Programme Review.
|
 |
|
"Reinforcement of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Supporting Organisations for African Countries" Lessons Learned from Japan
5 January - 6 March 2010
OVOP staff had an opportunity to undergo training on reinforcement of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) supporting institutions for African countries. The training centred on the analysis of problems faced by MSMEs in African countries as well as lectures and observations. It was discovered that there are common problems faced by small businesses in African countries, such as long periods taken by MSMEs to register their businesses, inadequate good infrastructure for MSMEs, limited access to finance, poor quality control in some MSMEs, lack of reliable markets, the fact that business groups tend to break up a short time after formation and limited knowledge by extension staff in quality control standards.
Lessons learned from the training include the need to provide small loans to entrepreneurs with viable businesses, even those without collateral should be able to access loans, free consultation services should be provided to start-ups through local government, for instance in the preparation of business plans, subsidies should be provided for start-ups and other businesses, there is a requirement for Credit Guarantee Cooperation (CGC), institutions that guarantee financial institutions against risks associated with loans to MSMEs, access to information should not be difficult, up-to-date technologies should be available to small businesses, government should consider promoting sub-contracting, protecting small businesses from unfair competition, provision of tax subsidies and training opportunities should be provided to upgrade the skills of MSMEs operators.
The training was helpful to Malawi because lessons were learnt relating to support for small-scale businesses such as OVOP cooperatives.
|
|
| 
