Kakumbi COMACO Cooperative membership soars as farmer recruitment intensifies

A campaign by the Kakumbi COMACO cooperative to increase its membership of 1,320 farmers is yielding positive results as non-members see first-hand the benefits their cooperative brings through improved markets they have witnessed over the past year.  In addition, the year-round training support services provided by their cooperative are gaining appreciation by farmers across the Kakumbi Chiefdom.  To date, 157 farmers, 111 of whom are women, have become new members by signing the COMACO conservation pledge and paying a cooperative membership fee.

COMACO expects to increase retail sales as Pick’n Pay adds four new stores

With the expansion of 4 new stores, Pick’nPay’s new supermarket stores bring COMACO’s It’s Wild! products to new neighborhoods for growing its consumer base. We congratulate Pick’nPay on their expansion and especially their strong support for the It’s Wild! brand and in recognition of its high-quality, fair-priced products.

Nyamphande declares war on charcoal 

In recent years, charcoal-making has had a free reign in Nyamphande Chiefdom, causing much destruction to local forests. Thanks to local leadership, change is coming.  Mr. Njobvu, the chairperson for Nyamphande Community Forest Management Group, explained that any resident who makes or transports charcoal will face fines based on conservation regulations agreed to by the community and through the local chief. Informants are reporting violations and several cases have already led to local punishment.   Mr. Njobvu, together with Hon. Chief Nyamphande and other local leaders are working to save their forests, which are now earning revenue under the carbon payment scheme supported by COMACO and the Forestry Department. 

COMACO processing beeswax for export, adding value to local forests
At our Nyimba honey processing plant, COMACO has begun processing wax that remains after the honey is filtered and purified.  With the double-jacketed heating device shown in the picture, honey is separated from all particles of impurities to produce high-grade beeswax for export.  Discussions are already in play with a buyer from Germany and will potentially give hive owners an increased market value for their honey and a greater incentive to keep forests protected.

Thanks to Honorable Chief Mumbi’s quick response to an early warning by local Community Forest Guards of illegal tree-cutting in their Community Conservation Area, a cache of charcoal was intercepted.  This was made possible by the Chief offering his truck to support the operation. The Forest Guards also caught the culprits in the act of cutting trees in their Community Conservation Area, who were later arrested by officers from the local Forestry Department.  We’re grateful to Hon. Chief Mumbi and the quick-acting Community Forestry Guards.  Such cases are becoming more common as communities take ownership and responsibility for their forests. COMACO continues to strengthen and expand these collaborative efforts across the Luangwa Valley.

Groundnut buying continuing with large tonnages ready for uplifting to Chipata processing plant

Groundnut purchases continue side by side with other extension activities in our operational areas. COMACO expects to buy over 2,000 tons of groundnuts this year from its registered farmers, many of whom are using Gliricidia sepium agroforestry to help boost soil nutrients and next year’s maize crops as part of their crop rotation farming practice.

Chiefs boost COMACO’s Save Our Forests campaign

2020 marks the second year of COMACO’s Save Our Forests campaign – a grassroots initiative to protect local forests by controlling fires and stopping illegal tree-cutting and charcoal-making.  COMACO monitors these efforts and in return offers increased market value for their forest products, like wild mushrooms and caterpillars.  Helping to lead this campaign are traditional leaders from all 6 chiefdoms where the campaign is rolling out in Serenje and Chitambo District. Shown here is Honorable Chief Mpumba discussing the campaign with COMACO field manager, Mwape Chibale.  The Forestry Department is a key partner in this initiative. If you would like to help support this campaign, please click here.

COMACO advances Cooperative Business Managers training at its Green Innovation Training Centers

Cooperative chairpersons and business managers from 13 cooperatives in Petauke, Sinda, and Nyimba Districts underwent advanced training in business skills and planning.  The goal of this training was to build financial sustainability for cooperatives to enable them to support their farmer support services to cooperative members. It is a challenging process COMACO is committed to.  Most cooperatives have never run a business but the quality and enthusiasm for those taking the training is impressive.  We are grateful to GIZ for its support to make this training possible.