We were joined tonight by our friends from the Malawi Fruits charity.   Their Executive Director Kvin Simpson is shown on the right with President Steve and Alan Laverock, also from Malawi Fruits, on the left.

Malawi Fruits was registered as a Scottish Charity in 2011 with a plan to initiate new businesses and then support them to become independent.

As the charity has grown and they have built up their resources and expertise they have become very involved with smallholder farmers. They encourage the farmers to see their smallholding as a business and are providing support and training to help develop the fledgling businesses so they can maximise their income and provide for the education and healthcare needs of their families.

Malawi Fruits are working on a three-stage development programme for the farmers:

1. To support the farmers to grow a cash crop, often for the first time

2. To irrigate the land so the farmer can get two crops per year

3. To provide crop processing facilities to add value to the crops and further drive up the farmers’ income.