A Malawian owned company, Maravi Enterprise is slowly cutting its way to the top of one of the country’s successful companies through Chia Seeds.
Maravi Enterprise is arguably one of the country’s top exporters of Chia Seeds, a gluten free seed that health experts say regulates blood pressure, diabetes and weight reduction.
Gluten is a protein naturally found in some grains including wheat, barley and rye.
Chia seeds is a herb and are very tiny black or white seeds. Chia Seeds helps in reducing blood pressure (BP), helps to control diabetes as well as improving anxiety and depression
The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Kingsley Gwaza has told ProjectM in an interview that the seeds are grown locally at Nsundwe on the outskirts of Lilongwe City.
He said after harvesting, the company packs and exports the product to Europe and several countries in Africa where demand is high.
“I should say here that so far, the product is receiving an overwhelming response from customers and the demand is high,” said Gwaza.
He said so far, countries in Europe are scrambling for the company’s products, which he said is being grown organically.
“A lot of customers in Europe, especially countries like Denmark, the United Kingdom and Spain are calling our product great mainly because we don’t add any chemicals when cultivating it,” said Gwaza.
Although he was noncommittal to disclose the profit his company is making so far, he was quick to stress that in the last few months, the product has raked in hundreds of dollars in forex.
“What we are asking for currently is some tax exemption from the government for us to start exporting more,” he added.
When contacted for a comment, Trade and Industry spokesperson Patrick Botha said the ministry will look into the issue.
“Our ministry is always committed to putting in place necessary measures that would ensure such exporters are being given the right conditions for them to thrive,” he said.
