The Namikango Commercial Farm

The Namikango Commercial Farm has grown significantly over the last year in terms of employee population, revenue and crop production. As a result, the local community has been blessed beyond belief in a time of increased unemployment and unspeakable hardships due to political uncertainty and the Covid-19 pandemic. A key highlight this year was the grand opening celebration which received national media recognition. The year on year revenues increased three-fold, and the tomato production increased from 20 to 63 tons. The Malawi Talent Project has been recognized by an international farming organization as the “largest” single tomato producer in Malawi.

In September 2020, the new sales office opened at the entrance of the farm directly off a main thoroughfare. The beautifully landscaped entrance is the talk of the town. The sales office generates over half of the annual vegetable revenue attracting buyers throughout the day from cities near and far. In the past, small business owners needed to travel many hours to purchase wholesale vegetables. The convenient location and supply of quality vegetables has even led to the creation of many local retail shops. This is just one example of how the success is impacting the community.

Sales Office-Before

Sales Office-After

The monthly revenue growth is not only a result of the sales office, but also from sales to large commercial clients in the hospitality and food manufacturing sectors. This year, the farm increased the supply to major Malawian brands such as Nali Hot Sauce, Sunbird Hotels, Steers, and the Malawi Army Defense Force. Last year, the pending sale of certified soya seeds to a major certified seed producer. It turns out the farm was their largest single provider of soya seed. Because the farm exceeded their expectations last year, the same seed producer contracted with the farm to provide certified groundnut seeds this season. The farm is completing the harvest/grading process of 8 tons of certified groundnut seeds.

The farm has increased the full-time workforce by 20 percent. During harvest season this year, the farm had a record breaking 140 workers in a single day earning a wage. The full-time workers are paid in accordance with Malawi law and are accumulating pension benefits and provided life insurance. The farm invests in the employees through life skill training as well as farm training. This year, the employees organized community soccer and netball teams for outreach into the community. Also, local church-plant pastors participate in the monthly gospel free luncheons for the full- and part-time workers offering spiritual guidance and encouraging church membership.

Next year, the focus will be in four areas: expanding the irrigation vegetable plots from 32 to 72 with the introduction of drip irrigation, increase employee technical and life skills training with the implementation of an advanced demonstration/training center to include a “model village,” the addition of animal production and the launch of an out- growers initiative, expanding the farms reach and production while providing training and income for village farmer co-ops.

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