UNDP SPONSORS VISIBILITY OF THE COFFEE SECTOR

Zomba, 23rd June, 2008 - Coffee Association of Malawi (CAMAL) with the help of the UNDP’s Growing Sustainable Businesses (GSB) Programme has embarked on a programme to increase local consumption of coffee in a bid to make the crop a viable investment opportunity in the country.

CAMAL is one of the organizations benefiting from GSB programme which supports the Malawi Investment Promotion Agency (MIPA) in its effort to reform and improve the enabling environment for business activity.

To achieve the increased consumption, CAMAL is promoting the local coffee through the Changamuka Coffee Promotion, an initiative where the organization is targeting players in the hospitality industry, especially hotels, as outlets for the coffee.
With the initiative CAMAL expects to bring awareness on the good quality of Malawi coffee and consequently increase the local consumption of coffee in Malawi to absorb 30 percent of national production which remains after exporting the crop.

Speaking at a function to wind up the initiative at Ku Chawe Inn in Zomba, Chairman of the association Laurence Lawrence said it is surprising that though Malawi coffee is rated highly in the continent, locals do not patronize the bevera
“Malawi coffee is rated third in Africa with Ethiopia and Burundi being the first and second respectively but consumption levels are far much higher internationally and very low in the country,” Lawrence said.
He said 70 percent of coffee grown in Malawi is sold internationally but Malawi still struggles to consume the remaining 30 percent.

Lawrence then asked local producers and packers of coffee in the Malawi to add value to the product by using good processing methods and packaging to enhance its visibility.

He then commended UNDP for supporting the initiative and called on other donors to emulate the example set.
UNDP supports the Malawi Investment Promotion Agency (MIPA) as an entry point ge enough to create a local market for it

The GSB programme has, among other projects, supported women groups in Mchinji in income generating acrivities like oil extraction, soap making and mushroom culture.

End