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Maize Mill “The best that would ever happen to us would be to have a mill here” This was the wish expressed by women in this Nandilimbe village. In October, just before the rains, their wish came true. Women and men constructed the building and the mill was in its place and queues got longer every minute of the day. The mill that is in operation six days a week and has created a market around it that trades in eggs, tomatoes, fruits and other local products. A borehole provides water to the village, but water or electricity  would not be used for the running of the mill which runs on diesel. As transporting diesel from Tengani to the village which is about 70 km by hired truck was costing around MKW 15,000 -  (75 €), the Mill Committee decided to employ 5 cyclists to go and collect 40 litres each, bringing back 200 litres of diesel and were paid MKW 1,500 – (5.50 €) each. These cyclists’ trips were not all that easy either, but they were able to accomplish their tasks for the sake of serving their society.

 

Vitamines Sibusiso – a food  supplement made out of peanuts subsidises the simple non-nutritional maize porridge (nsima). A 500 g can of Sibusiso costs about 5€ and much of the gift money goes to the purchasing of this supplement. Note: A Finnish, Heli Kuusipalo M.Sc.(Nutrition)  of Tampere University has been one of the researchers of Sibusiso in Malawi.

Malawi peanuts are known to be of a very high quality in the world and peanut farming profits both farmers and consumers and creates work which is a prime factor in Malawi. This product has proved to be more effective on those who are HIV/AIDS positive and TB patients. See www.readyfood.com The supplement is suitable for vegetarians, but not for those with peanut or soya allergies. ·        It is gluten and lactose-free. ·        High energy and protein ·        It is ready food ·        Does not need warming ·        It is recommended for children from the age of six months to adults. Sourse: www.readyfood.co.za/cms/

Pricettes and ovens On our way back from the south-most part of the country, we brought along with us a young man from Nanchiri to the lakeshore village of Chembe to train in prickette  and oven making with the hope that he would go back to the village and train women how to make these ovens and mashes of leaves for cooking and stoves that save energy and the forest. Both in towns and in the villages food is prepared on an open fire among some three stones. Soil erosion is at an alarming scale. The making of mud or cement ovens that are more durable, cost about 1.50 €. The mash is prepared out of maize or any other leaves that are first soaked in water and then crashed together and dried into energy use for cooking. This demands hard working and learning to understand the ecological setting.

Educational Centre

A plan is under development to construct a training centre either in Lilongwe or in Zomba with the idea of training local population to help themselves and each other. Some of the ideas and technique can be borrowed from Finland of the 50s and be improvised. In a country where electricity is unknown in rural areas, and money is scares, such knowledge could be a great challenge. But time will tell.