Kafulu Visit After ACE Workshop

ACE Workshop participants visit Kafulu Warehouse

By Frank Kadzakumanja

On 13 September, 2012 Agricultural Commodity Exchange (ACE) organized a field visit to one of its certified warehouses in Kafulu, Dowa, 70 km north of Lilongwe. The session attracted participants from the donor sector, government and development partners. Also present were business executives, NGOs, traditional leaders and farmers. Receiving the participants at the office premise in Kafulu, Mr George Funsani, Manager for Kafulu Warehouse, said that ACE had assumed the integrated management of storing grain in May 2012.Mr Funsani further explained to the participants how deposits of grain are made and how warehouse receipts are issued. Among other things, Mr Funsani also explained how maize is kept to prevent pests through fumigation. Participants were also given a chance to ask questions and ACE staff through The Principal advisor, Mr Kisrtian Schach Moller took time to explain the functions.

Kafulu Participants Pic Participants Listen to presentation by Warehouse MGR Mr Funsani

Kafulu Women Welcoming Participants

Kafulu women Farmers welcome Field visit participants with a dance

Thereafter, there was a function where there were speeches, dramas and

traditional dances. The Member of Parliament for the area, Honorable Abel

Kayembe said that he was very happy with the development brought to the area by ACE and recommended that the exercise be extended to other areas as well so that more farmers are assisted. Speaking on behalf of ACE, Structured Trade Officer for ACE, Mr Frank Kadzakumanja commended smallholder farmers and Kafulu farmers association for their support and explained how the warehouse receipt has benefited the first farmers who have recently brought in more commodity.

Also speaking at the same function was T.A. Kayembe who also commended ACE for the good work and thanked the farmers for their enormous support.

Agricultural Commodity Exchange (ACE) aims at transforming Malawi's agricultural sector in selected agricultural staple commodities to achieve increased competitiveness on the domestic, regional and international markets.