longitudinal impact assessment study of sugar producers in malawi

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Acknowledgements We would like to thank the Kasinthula Cane Growers Ltd management and staff for their hospitality and forbearance during this study. (Fairtrade clerical staff in particular were extremely helpful with information and guidance. In addition, lllovo Management staff at Nchalo Estate helped us to understand the relationship between Kasinthula and Illovo. TWIN/TWIN Trading representatives provided useful information on their support to Kasinthula, while Nita Pillai and Jessica Gordon were a constant encouragement throughout the study. Disclaimer The opinions expressed in this report are those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of the parties with whom we interacted - nor do they represent the views of the Fairtrade Foundation. 2
Executive Summary The study This study was commissioned by the Fairtrade Foundation and conducted by the Natural Resources Institute in 2009-10. It reflects the increasing demand to measure and demonstrate the difference that engagement with Fairtrade has had on participating producers and workers, their families, the Producer Organisations (PO), and the wider community in developing countries – in other words the impact of Fairtrade. The overall objectives of this sugar impact assessment study in Malawi were to: Understand the context and environment in which Fairtrade in the Malawian sugar industry is operating Understand the aims and objectives of the PO in terms of their sustainable development and empowerment, Assess the extent to which Fairtrade as well as other organisations or networks, have assisted the PO in achieving its objectives Compile baseline information against which to monitor progress and impact in the future The initial study will be followed up after 2 and 4 years to provide a longitudinal assessment of: The longer-term impact, both positive and negative, that being part of Fairtrade has had on producers, their organisations and the wider community The longer-term impact that Fairtrade has had on the local economy How Fairtrade organisations can support producers more effectively to achieve their goals in the future The approach used is a participatory livelihoods approach and the process had 4 components: A review of relevant information; Discussion with a range of stakeholders at national, district and local levels; Meetings with the Producer Organisation; Focus Group Discussions with men and women members, and with non-cane producing farmers; Case-study semi-structured interviews with individual member families, and production, income and membership data requested from relevant organisations; A feedback meeting with KCGL staff and producers, Illovo Sugar (Malawi) Ltd staff and members of the EU project for the expansion of Kasinthula Cane Growers Ltd (KCGL). The sugar sector Malawi’s sugar sector is vital for the country’s economy and holds enormous potential. It is the country’s third most important export commodity, valued at US$ 61 million (2007). Malawi is one of the most efficient sugar producers in the world, producing sugar up to three times cheaper than European producers. The sugar cane is grown under irrigation, and agro-climatic conditions are favourable for both cane yields and sugar formation. The Fairtrade certification in 2004 of the first and only Fairtrade sugar producer group in Malawi, Kasinthula Cane Growers Limited (KCGL), plus the tariff free access into Europe, means that Malawian Fairtrade sugar is now available in mainstream supermarkets. Illovo Sugar (Malawi) Ltd is Malawi’s only sugar plantation producer and processor. It has two estates with milling facilities at Nchalo Estate on the Shire River (which mills the cane from Kasinthula), and Dwangwa Estate near Lake Malawi. Together with 3
Page 1: LONGITUDINAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT STUD
Page 5 and 6: • Food security for producer hous
Page 7 and 8: Contents 1. Introduction Page 8 2.
Page 9 and 10: 3. Methodology This study is a long
Page 11 and 12: 4.2 The sugar situation in Malawi A
Page 13 and 14: Malawi exported sugar during the ye
Page 15 and 16: 6. Support to KCGL from TWIN/TWIN T
Page 17 and 18: 7. Findings of the study 7.1 The pr
Page 19 and 20: There are now plans for a Phase III
Page 21 and 22: The limiting factors to the success
Page 23 and 24: Cane transport Concern Universal En
Page 25 and 26: Table 7.1 Labour employment by KCGL
Page 27 and 28: Major economic and social benefits
Page 29 and 30: demands have come from villages out
Page 31 and 32: KCGL employees do not feel that the
Page 33 and 34: 1998 MK400 fortnightly (MK800 per m
Page 35 and 36: He plans to build a house of his ow
Page 37 and 38: A grocery shop at Dyeratu Trading c
Page 39 and 40: The relationship with the KCGL Boar
Page 41 and 42: The disciplinary committee oversees
Page 43 and 44: Frequent ploughing out and replanti
Page 45 and 46: 8.5 Changes in local, regional and
Page 47 and 48: 9. Improving impact 9.1 Producer st
Page 49 and 50: and their solutions in order to imp
Page 51 and 52: Number of families receiving money
Page 53:
to 282 farmers in March 2010. These
show all

longitudinal impact assessment study of sugar producers in malawi

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?