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USADF Protects Farmers Against NCDs

Cross section of cheque presentation Cross section of cheque presentation Pic Credit: by Enock Phiri-ZBS

The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) has pumped in over K200 million kwacha towards the curbing of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Neno district, targeting members of two cooperatives: Mwangidzi Cooperative Society Limited and Mfundadzi farmers’ Cooperative Society Limited.

USADF Chief Executive Officer Travis Adkins told the media in Blantyre on Tuesday after handing over a warehouse to Nandolo Farmers Association they are committed to uplifting the living standards of farmers in the country’s rural areas. 

“With the grants we have signed today, we expect to continue to succeed in increasing the income for farmers in this area. We would expect the Livelihood Improvement Project to continue to see to it that people have non-communicable diseases controlled to be able to live robust lives,” Adkins said. 

Meanwhile, Nandolo Farmers Association Chairperson Suzeni Chimbayo believes that the warehouse they have received from USADF will help them in adding value to their nandolo (pigeon pea) products.

“All the time we are complaining about low prices. We do not earn our sweat. So, we said why we don’t have our own factory where we can increase value. It was not easy for the donors to understand. We had submitted the proposal to different donors but it was only USADF that was able to understand our concerns and we are very grateful,” she explained.   

Fourteen cooperatives in Neno, including the two, are among the beneficiaries of the Livelihood Improvement Project (LIP) funded to the tune of $4.5 million under USADF.

(By Mathias Mkupasha-ZBS)

 

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Last modified on Wednesday, 05/10/2022

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