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Biliwiri Farmers and Marketing Cooperative Society Limited (BIFAM) of Ntcheu Holds its Second Annual General Meeting
16 June 2011
COOPERATIVE FUNCTIONS AND MANAGEMENT
One of the first cooperatives to be formulated under OVOP, Biliwiri Farmers and Marketing Cooperative Society Limited, held its second Annual General Meeting on 16th June 2011. The following reports were presented during the meeting: financial and audit report, budget review, BIFAM cooperative's status. In addition, general elections were conducted during the meeting and a new management committee was elected as follows:
Chairman: Mr Daud Lahela
Vice: Mr James Khumayo
Secretary: Mrs Emily McDonald
Vice: Mrs Eunice Mapanje
Treasurer: Mrs Agnes Abudu
Members: Mrs Alice Hola, Mr Mikeasi Dzako, Ms Patricia Kapesi, Ms Grace Lameki
In his remarks, the Registrar of Cooperatives, Mr C B Kayesa congratulated the outgoing committee for all their work and encouraged them to work closely with the newly-elected committee for effective results. The Registrar also thanked OVOP for the value-addition programme, which is mushrooming in all the districts with the aim of economically empowering local Malawians.
The National Coordinator of OVOP, Mrs K Kaluma Sulumba, who was the Guest of Honour at the meeting, thanked the outgoing committee for its untiring efforts to put the cooperative where it is now. She advised the leaders to be transparent and accountable, adding that members should be fully aware of all transactions in their cooperative. She urged the leaders to prepare reports that are simple, open and easily understood by every member, which will help to encourage members to participate fully in all the activities of the cooperatives.
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OVOP Newsletter Volume 9 was published
15 June 2011
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OVOP National Coordinator, Registrar of Cooperatives and Principal Cooperative Liaison Officer visited cooperatives in the Southern Region, namely Tithokoze Lime, Zakudimba Producers and Mapanga Honey Producers Cooperative Society Limited
13 - 17 June 2011
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Conducted sugarcane juice processing machine sensitisation meetings in Blantyre, Thyolo, Mulanje and Zomba
8 - 11 June 2011
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Installed fruit juice processing machine at Zipatso Association in Mwanza district
6 - 8 June 2011
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Lessons Learnt from the Trade Facilitation Seminar Organised by Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China
18 May - 7 June 2011
The training was facilitated by Renmin University of China from 18th May to 7th June 2011. The training programme provided a forum for 25 participants from Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Mozambique, Sudan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal and Malawi to share their experiences.
The interactive seminar included activities such as lectures, question and answer sessions and visits to factories and museums. The major topics covered during the seminar were China's Foreign Exchange Management, Economic Trade Relations with developing countries, Poverty in Abundance, Agriculture Trade Facilitation, China Commercial Affairs and Foreign Aid, China's Basin Situation and the reform; Opening Up Trade Facilitation Issues in Doha talks and China's FDI Experience; China's Customs Supervision and the role of Chamber in the Trade Facilitation. The seminar also gave an opportunity for participants to share their national trade facilitation experiences. The following lessons were learned from the seminar:
- Good management of foreign reserves is key to facilitating trade. This can be achieved through creating conducive policies, making domestic currencies convertible.
- Economic and foreign trade relations with developing countries, which are mostly based on WTO and multilateral convention and agreements. These agreements have to be thoroughly addressed.
- Economic transformation, policies and measures that governments put in place could create economic disparities. Measures that could stimulate the participation of marginalised people in economic development would reduce the gap between the poor and the rich.
- Countries could provide subsidies to domestic farmers in order to make imports less competitive in their local domestic markets.
- Basic infrastructure is good for trading such as road and rail networks, telecommunications and harmonisation of customs to help reduce the time taken for goods and services crossing borders.
- E-commerce creates paperless transactions and helps to free up human resources.
- Other important issues highlighted included the capability to generate electric power, telephone capability, improvement of infrastructure and reduction in perceived levels of corruption.
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Installed groundnut cooking oil processing machine at Khama Lipindula Cooking Oil Cooperative in Kasungu
30 May - 3 June 2011
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OVOP Cooperatives Interact with Business Community at the 23rd Malawi International Trade Fair
20 - 29 May 2011
This year's 23rd Malawi International Trade Fair was held at the Chichiri Trade Fair Grounds in Blantyre from 20th to 29th May 2011 under the theme "Accelerating Trade through Innovation". It drew 70 participants from various farmer organisations, of which 50 were foreign companies. The Ministry of Industry and Trade participated at the fair through the following OVOP cooperatives: Wovwe Rice Cooperative, Ngerenge Rice Cooperative, Kaporo Oil Cooperative, Rumphi Cassava Cooperative, Mkondezi Winery, Kamwendo Cooking Oil Cooperative, Chimwang'ombe Honey Cooperative, Msulauchi Honey Cooperative, Biriwiri Farmers Cooperative, Khumbo Oil Cooperative, Kunthembwe Nsinjiro Group, Zakudimba Cooperative, Mapanga Honey Cooperative, Zipatso Association, MAWIMA, Loyal Tech Gemstones, Bakali Ceramics and East Bank Ceramics. The main objective of the 23rd Malawi International Trade Fair was to enable participants to showcase various value-added products and establish business links with partners in the process. It was also organised to allow participants to learn and appreciate new technologies available in various sectors and exchange ideas through their interactions.
In total, 14 business contacts were made - 3 for cassava flour, 1 for banana wine, 5 for OVOP rice, 3 for oil processing cooperatives, 1 for potato crisps and 1 for graded groundnuts. In addition, OVOP cooperatives made a total of MK597,890 as follows:
The 23rd Malawi International Trade Fair was a success, as evidenced by the high quality of products that were displayed. The great improvement in sales was attributed to the high quality of the products.
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Received two 3-tonne vehicles for OVOP cooperatives from a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) called Sagawa from Japan. The vehicles will ease some of the groups' transportation problems
4 - 14 May 2011
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OVOP Secretariat conducted the 10th OVOP Board meeting at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Zimbabwe High Commission Building
6 May 2011
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Value-adding Activities in Dowa, Dedza and Mchinji Commended by the Honourable Deputy Minister, Hon Shadreck Jonasi, MP
3 - 4 May 2011
The Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Honourable Shadreck Jonasi, MP, and the National Coordinator for OVOP, Mrs Kamia Kaluma Sulumba, visited OVOP projects in Dowa, Dedza and Mchinji districts in Lilongwe on 3rd and 4th May 2011. The purpose of the visit was to have an insight into OVOP activities at community level and to encourage OVOP cooperatives in the value-adding activities. The projects that were visited were Katengeza Cane and Bamboo furniture in Dowa, Bwanje Valley Rice Producers and Marketing Cooperative Society Limited in Dedza, Tayamba Soya Milk Processing Cooperative, Kamwendo Oil Processing Cooperative and Mthiransembe Groundnut Oil Processing Cooperative Society Limited in Mchinji.
Major challenges observed during the visit were lack of equipment to carry out the value-adding activity, lack of working capital to procure more raw materials to process year round, transportation of rice to markets, packaging of soya milk and the requirement to manage the soya smell as well as the temporary use of factory units by Kamwendo and Nthiransembe Cooperatives, who are operating in rented structures. The National Coordinator further highlighted that the other challenge for the cooperatives to access markets was certification with the Malawi Bureau Standards (MBS) and that some cooperatives were already on the MBS scheme and assessments by MBS were under way. She urged the cooperatives to work on the issues highlighted by MBS to speed up the certification process.
The Honourable Deputy Minister encouraged the cooperative members to work hard on the value-adding activities. He was pleased with the members for fulfilling the vision of transforming the country from a producing and consuming nation to a manufacturing and exporting nation and highlighted the following as critical issues in value addition and business conduct:
- Ensuring that quality of products is improved for them to access international markets.
- Keeping financial resources in the bank accounts, including properly kept books of accounts, which could be used to access loans easily from the banks.
- Adhering to set standards in packaging (in proper bottles and packets) and sealing of packets to attract customers.
It was further indicated that the cooperative should develop a business plan and keep proper records as these could be used as proposals for accessing resources from financing institutions. Cooperative members were commended for the initiative because the factory shells had also created employment for the local community. Members were assured that the Ministry would continue supporting with technical know-how to improve the quality of products.
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OVOP participated in the NASME-Tanzania International Trade Fair which took place at Lilongwe Hotel in Lilongwe
1 - 3 May 2011
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Made follow-ups to loan recovery for 20 projects where a total of MK 1,397,900 was recovered
January - June 2011
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Installed machines for two projects (Kameme groundnut oil and Chigomedzo groundnut oil)
April 2011
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ACLO for Nkhotakota participated in international seminars: Community Capacity and Rural Development course in Japan
30 March - 17 April 2011
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OVOP prepared the 2011-2012 financial year budget estimates
March - 18 April 2011
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Conducted Concrete Block Production Training at Malabada Concrete Products Cooperative Society Limited in Blantyre City Council
9 - 10 April 2011
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Motor cycle training was conducted at the Malawian Entrepreneurs Development Institute (MEDI) for Assistant Cooperative Liaison Officers. Training was conducted by the National Road Safety Council
1 - 12 April 2011
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"Commercial Enterprise Development for Developing Countries": Lessons Learned from China
8 - 28 April 2011
The Principal Rural Development Officer (Sales Promotion) attended a seminar on Commercial Enterprise Management for developing countries from 8th - 28th April 2011, which was conducted in Beijing City, China. The seminar was organised by The People's Republic of China through the Ministry of Commerce and the Economic Joint Committee of China Commercial Stock Enterprises. There were 37 participants from countries such as Malawi, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Columbia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Sierra Leone, Georgia, Zanzibar, Tanzania, Zambia, Pakistan, Ghana, Philippines, Angola, Vietnam and Sudan.
The objectives were to enhance cooperation and communication on issues of trade between China and the developing countries, to exchange ideas and develop friendly relationships among the countries and to explore the development path and a platform for entrepreneurs for developing countries.
Lessons learnt for Malawi were as follows:
- Infrastructure development is a key to rapid economic growth.
- Banking sector support to rural communities improves the livelihood of the people.
- Modern commercial trading systems enhance trade and improve economy.
- Cultural heritages promote tourism.
- It is necessary to produce quality products in order to benefit from China's trade platform at Chendu Trade City.
The Seminar was very educational and also helped participants to share cultural, trade and economic issues regarding their countries. The seminar enhanced skills and knowledge regarding issues of international trade and modern economic development concepts.
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Report on Introduction of the JICA/OVOP Phase II "Strengthening the Capacity of OVOP Programme for Delivering Services to OVOP Activities in Malawi" Project
7 April 2011
The OVOP/JICA Phase II programme named "Strengthening the Capacity of OVOP Programme for Delivering Services to OVOP Activities in Malawi" was officially launched on 7th April 2011 in Lilongwe, supported by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). During a stakeholders' meeting for the project held on 13th April 2011, the OVOP Secretariat and JICA agreed on the work programme and set-up of the project. The project duration will be five years from April 2011 to April 2016 and the purpose of OVOP Phase II is to strengthen the ability of national and local government to fulfil the objectives of the OVOP programme and improve the climate for business. The project will provide training and assistance in better understanding and innovation for OVOP concept, Value Addition, Quality Control and basic business skills. OVOP Phase II will also promote the use of standards and processes that improve public administration, business formalisation, trade expansion and private sector access to markets.
"OVOP Phase II will focus on cultivating the mind of entrepreneurship to change the Malawian small business environment and make you proud of the local resources", explained Ms Mieko Ouchi, Coordinator and Small Business Development Expert. In order to measure the baseline indicators of current capacity, and also define the needs of OVOP groups, OVOP Phase II will undertake the baseline survey in collaboration with Bunda College and Assistant Cooperative Liaison Officers (ACLOs) from August to September 2011.
Project Duration
7th April 2011 to 6th April 2016
Implementing Body
Ministry of Industry and Trade One Village One Product Secretariat
Overall Goal
Income level of the local community engaged in OVOP movement is increased by producing value-added goods and services, which are marketable nationally and internationally, by using locally available resources.
Project Purpose
The capacity of the OVOP Secretariat and Assistant Cooperative Liaison Officer for delivering services to OVOP activities at local level is strengthened.
Output
1. Capacity of the OVOP Secretariat and ACLOs to promote OVOP concept approach is strengthened.
2. Capacity of the OVOP Secretariat and ACLOs to promote value-adding technologies is strengthened.
3. Capacity of the OVOP Secretariat and ACLOs to promote quality control is strengthened.
4. Capacity of the OVOP Secretariat and ACLOs to develop business development skills of OVOP group members is developed.
5. Market linkages between producing communities and domestic/international markets are strengthened.
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Community Capacity and Rural Development Course ? Focussing on One Village One Product for African Countries, Japan from 30th March to 17th April, 2011; a Worthwhile Experience for Nkhotakota OVOP District Officer
30 March - 17 April 2011
The Assistant Cooperative Liaison Officer for Nkhotakota was privileged to attend the training course in Japan on Community Capacity and Rural Development ? focusing on One Village One Product for African countries, whose objective was the development of community capacity and implementation of rural development project under the rural development policy (One Village One Product movement). Seven African countries participated in the training, namely Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda.
The following lessons were learnt and recommended for the programme: Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Support Institutions have to be established for the provision of financial, technical and other services to SMEs, financial support is critical for SME development, Government ought to provide funds to financial institutions so that they can offer loans to SMEs at a lower interest rate, networking among SMEs helps in bringing together business people to share/exchange business information in areas such as marketing, product development and business management not only among themselves but also with larger enterprises, Business Incubation Centres should be established to offer services both to existing SMEs and start-ups to help impart the required business skills and knowledge to the SMEs and a Credit Guarantee System, handled by the Credit Guarantee Corporations. These do not provide loans but provide credit guarantees on business loans.
It is recommended that OVOP cooperatives should think globally and act locally and that, in the long run, Malawi will reap the fruits of the programme.
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Assistant Cooperative Liaison Officers Get Orientated on Food Hygiene and Quality Assurance at Malawian Entrepreneurs Development Institute (MEDI)
29 - 31 March 2011
A training workshop was organised for Assistant Cooperative Liaison Officers from all district councils on Food Hygiene and Quality Assurance. The workshop highlighted the fact that Food Hygiene and Quality Assurance are very important in food processing activities as most foodborne diseases result from unhygienic practices in food processing premises.
The OVOP Secretariat, in collaboration with Bunda College of Agriculture, organised the training workshop to equip the officers with the necessary skills for monitoring of groups, which are currently under the Malawi Bureau of Standards certification scheme. The following topics were thoroughly covered: understanding quality assurance based on Malawi Standard 21, understanding of product labelling based on Malawi Standard 21, introduction to Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP), understanding of the critical control point for processing, practice on describing critical points and introduction to action plan preparation.
Participants in the workshop commended the mode of delivery for the training, which included lectures, practicals and field visit. The officers indicated that they were fully equipped to follow up on hygiene and labelling issues with all OVOP cooperatives in their districts.
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OVOP participated in the COMESA-ACTESA-FEMCOM consultative forum at Cresta Hotel in Lilongwe
28 March 2011
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Report on Indian Visit by Malawi Delegation
27 - 29 March 2011
Malawi participated in the 7th CII Africa India Conclave from 27th to 29th March 2011. The Malawi delegation was led by the Minister of Industry and Trade and included the PS for Industry and Trade, Deputy Director Investment, Assistant Director of Investment, Executive Director MEDI, Director General (MIRTDC) and OVOP Coordinator, among others.
The delegation fully participated in the 7th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on Indian Africa Project partnership, which was basically a series of presentations and discussion on India as a potential market for African products and as a partner for finance and sources of appropriate, affordable and adaptable technologies. On the other hand, Africa was presented as a potential market for India's technologies and services.
Prior to the Conclave, the meeting with the Ministry of Micro Small, Medium Enterprises was an eye-opener for the delegation as it centred on the establishment of a Business Incubation Centre in Malawi. After discussions, recommendations drawn for the establishment of the incubation centre for concentration by Malawi were:
- Food processing, agricultural processing
- Packaging and labelling to support the manufacturing industry
- Renewable energy
- Paper and plastic recycling
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Conducted Cooperative and Business management Training at Tilimbike Lime Cooperative Society Limited in Balaka District
21 - 25 March 2011
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OVOP participated in validation and training workshop for honey industry in Malawi at Riverside Hotel organised by PROEINVEST project (EU)
21 - 23 March 2011
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OVOP participated in JICA/OVOP seminar in UK
17 - 18 March 2011
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Conducted Cooperative and Business Management Training at Wanangwa Agro-processing Cooperative Society Limited in Rumphi District
14 - 18 March 2011
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OVOP coordinated Business Incubation Centre preparatory meeting
4 March 2011
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JICA UK Press visited OVOP Cooperatives (Mitundu and Katendeza cane furniture) to appreciate performance of OVOP groups in Malawi
3 March 2011 |
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OVOP participated in the Parliamentary Committee on Commerce which took place at Lilongwe Hotel in Lilongwe
2 March 2011
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Honey processing machine installed at Msulauchi Producers and Marketing Cooperative Society Limited in Mwanza District
February 2011
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OVOP Board Holds 9th and 10th Meetings
9 February 2011, 6 May 2011
The One Village One Product (OVOP) Programme's 9th and 10th Board Meetings were held on 9th February and 6th May 2011 respectively. The meetings were chaired by the Minister of Industry and Trade, Hon Mrs Eunice Kazembe, MP. During the meetings, the Board approved 11 new projects to be implemented in the financial year 2011/2012. The projects were two concrete brick-making projects (Real Company and Chilengedwe ), two gemstone cutting and polishing projects (Chitsanzo and Loyal Tech and Blantyre Mining), one juice processing project (Tigwirizane Fruit Processors), three cotton ginning projects (Mlare Cotton, Mitole Cotton and Nsanje Cotton Growers), one honey processing project (Kakhumate Honey Processing), one orange and tangerine juice processing project (Zipatso Association) and one potato processing project (Chandamale Potato Crisps) from various districts.
On certification of OVOP products by the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS,) the Chairperson was concerned with the delay by MBS in certifying OVOP products from different OVOP cooperatives. It was pleasing to note that three projects were pre-certified by the MBS in May 2011, namely Mapanga Honey, Mitundu Agro Processing and Biriwiri Potato Crisps. The Board agreed that Training of Trainers for Assistant Cooperative Liaison Officers (District OVOP Officers) on Quality Assurance and Hygiene should be conducted to facilitate effective monitoring of OVOP cooperatives.
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Experiences on Reinforcement of SMEs Supporting Organisations in African Countries: Lessons Learnt from Japan
4 January - 4 March 2011
A training course on the Reinforcement of Small and Medium Enterprise Supporting Organisations in African Countries was undertaken by Assistant Cooperative Liaison Officer for Mangochi from 4th January to 4th March 2011. Nine African countries participated in the training: Malawi, Mozambique, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Senegal.
An issue analysis workshop was conducted where problems faced by the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the participating countries are facing were analysed, together with their causes. Challenges facing the Malawi SMEs were discussed, including the high interest rates charged by banks and micro finance institutions, which MSMEs cannot afford to pay, the collateral required by banks and micro finance institutions for MSMEs to access loans is unfavourable, most MSMEs do not have the relevant administrative and technical skills to run their businesses, MSMEs do not have adequate access to markets due to poor product quality and most start-ups do not have adequate information on the businesses they want to venture into.
Lessons learnt from the course included the following needs for the Malawi MSME sector: SME support institutions, financial support to SMEs, SME registration, networking among SMEs, a subcontracting system, Business Incubation Centres and a Credit Guarantee System.
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