COMSIP Members Gain Valuable Lessons at Malawi International Trade Fair

Members of COMSIP Cooperative Union Cooperatives have described the 34th Malawi International Trade Fair as a great platform for knowledge sharing for enhancing productivity of their agribusinesses.

The sentiments were made during a learning visit the Union organized for its members across the country at the ongoing trade fair at Chichiri Trade Fair grounds in Blantyre.

The visit included members from Blantyre, Rumphi, Karonga, Mzimba, Dowa, Kasungu, Mulanje, Chiradzulu and Ntchisi, among others, who are involved in various agribusinesses including small-scale agro-processing, livestock production, bee-keeping as well as wine production.

One of the members Anastanzia Gondwe from Marukaka Cooperative under Chichaja Cluster in Chikwawa-Rumphi district described the visit as an eye opener, saying the valuable lessons learned at this year’s trade fair will help improve her group which is engaged in farming and running a bakery. 

“I have learned the importance of hygiene in our line of business, the products that we have seen here are well packaged and well branded so when I go back I will share this knowledge with cooperative members. Right now we just bake and sale our bread but moving forward we are going to brand all our production to make them attractive for a larger market,” said Gondwe

Another member Joseph Chumachiyenda Phungwako from Malaina COMSIP Cooperative in Chiradzulu said through the visit members have gained valuable skills including how best to maximize the honey production business that the cooperative is engaging in apart from the pigeon peas farming.

“It was really inspiring to see well packaged honey at the trade fair, this is exactly what we will start doing once we go back,” said Phungwako.

However, the members called on the Union to assist them in getting their products certified by relevant bodies like the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) to conquer formal markets.

 

In her remarks, the Public Relations Officer for the Malawi Bureau of Standards, Monica Khombe said the bureau has deliberately come up with softer conditions for certification and hoped that through this initiative, many small enterprises will be certified.

Meanwhile Paul Kamwendo Cooperative Development and Investment Officer for COMSIP Cooperative Union said the learning visit was designed to equip cooperative members with practical knowledge and insights that can be applied to their businesses, by engaging with industry experts and fellow members to improve their operations in areas of agro-processing, product branding and value addition.

"Many of the members that we brought here have been producers but have never attended such an event to see what their friends and other cooperatives are producing for the market. By focusing on value addition, we aim to help our members improve their operations and increase their productivity,” said Kaonga

According to Kamwendo, such initiatives are vital for the growth and success of agribusiness, as they empower cooperative members with the tools and connections needed to thrive in a competitive market.

Meanwhile Kamwendo disclosed that COMSIP Cooperative Union is working with relevant authorities to support members in obtaining product certification and enhancing branding and packaging, to become competitive on the market.

The 34th Malawi International Trade Fair which runs from 23rd to 29th May is being held under the theme “Boosting Malawi’s export capacity through enhanced productivity”