TAML Secures K25.3 million for Cyclone Freddy Response

Some of the distributed relief items Some of the distributed relief items - pic courtesy of TAML

Despite individual members of the Tea Association of Malawi Limited (TAML) making their responses to the Tropical Cyclone Freddy, the organization on Thursday made a K12 million donation worthy of relief items to disaster affected smallholder tea growers and other affected households in Thyolo district.

The organization distributed maize four, cooking oil, Corn blend flour, sanitary pads, soap, milk, soya pieces, and plastic buckets to 100 affected smallholder tea growers households from Chizunga, Mtendere and Suwadzi associations, 110 households at Nyodola Camp and 165 households at Mangwalala camp.

TAML Board Chairperson Sangwani Hara told Zodiak Online that the impact of the cyclone has not spared the tea industry.

"Our smallholder tea farmers and some communities within the tea growing districts of Thyolo and Mulanje have been greatly affected by the cyclone and we decided to play our part by raising funds to provide relief items to the survivors," said Hara.

He said the funds were raised from TAML, its members (Eastern Produce Malawi Limited (EPM), Lujeri, Smallholder Tea Estate Company (STECO), Zoa, Conform, Makandi,Satemwa, Namingomba and Luwalazi estate companies and their partners like Ethical Tea Partnership, Trust Africa, Solidaridad and Zoona Trading.

District Commissioner for Thyolo Rosemary Nawasha who attended distribution of relief items at the two camps hailed TAML for its support.

"We still need more support as a lot of people in the district were heavily affected," said Nawasha.

While thanking TAML for the support as Mangwalala camp had run out of food stuff, Group Village Headwoman asked the organization to assist the campers with tents for shelters.

“If possible, please support these people with planting materials for potatoes and cassava to enable them plant for food and income," said GVH Mangwalala.

According to Hara, 26 smallholder tea growers have been confirmed dead, 41 are still missing and close to 100 hectares of tea have been washed away. One tea estate worker died during the disaster.

Read 1583 times

Last modified on Friday, 07/04/2023

Login to post comments
Go to top
JSN Time 2 is designed by JoomlaShine.com | powered by JSN Sun Framework