A group of progressive farmers operating under a cooperative called Bomfa based in Mphomwa, Kasungu has attracted praise from various stakeholders after it successfully launched a locally manufactured cooking oil brand which is already on the market.
The cooperative, comprising of over 700 farmers has formed a manufacturing business which is producing the cooking oil trading under the brand “Tchweee! Cooking Oil”.
Bomfa cooperative chairperson Zaina Kapachika has told ProjectM that the cooperative decided to venture into the manufacturing business after growing frustrated with the amount of profits farmers under the group were getting after selling their harvests.
“In the past, we used to cultivate various crops and sell as a cooperative, a development which wasn’t necessarily bringing us enough profit,” she said .
Two years ago, the cooperative, which largely cultivates Groundnuts and Sunflower, decided to take a different route and decided to use part of its harvests as raw materials for cooking oil manufacturing.
“And that’s when we settled for this product which I must say is making a positive impression among customers in the market,” said Kapachika.
The grouping obtained a K2 million loan from the state owned National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) 2 years ago which was used to purchase equipment for manufacturing.
After noticing the positive impact the initial loan made, NEEF decided to offer the cooperative a K250 million loan which is a record sum the state owned entity has given to any cooperative.
“We used this money to purchase extra raw materials from farmers, raw materials that have greatly propelled our business forward,” the group’s chairperson added.
Currently, Tchweee Cooking Oil is being sold in various chain stores in Kasungu and surrounding districts.
The cooperative’s exploits have caught the attention of government which through Vice-President Dr Michael Usi, has promised to help in ensuring that the product has penetrated the international market.
The Vice-President, who toured the cooperative works, touted Tchweee Cooking Oil, calling it a remarkable product.
“I am personally impressed with what I have seen here I will ensure that this cooperative has received all the support it needs from government,” said Usi.
Tchweee Cooking Oil has already received certification from the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS).
