longitudinal impact assessment study of sugar producers in malawi

elieves that the cash that they get from Illovo is not enough mainly in view of
the deductions for the items they get on loan. A little bit of cash is also
required. He indicated that if this was done, maybe farmers would be deterred
from selling some of the materials they demand once they get them.
Case Study 6: Farmer 6
Case Study 6 & Family Age Education Crops Grown
Farmer 6 37 Form 4 and
Diploma in IT
36
-SVCGT member
- Farmer –cane and maize
-Businessman (Grocery shop)
-9 cattle, more than 20 chickens
spouse 33 Std 7 Spouse
daughter 17 Std 7 Assists in the garden when free
daughter 16 Std 6 Assists in the garden when free
son 14 Std 6 Does not work in the garden
son 11 Std 4 Does not work in the garden
daughter 11 Std 4 Does not work in the garden
daughter 7 Std 2 Does not work in the garden
son 1 - -
Farmer 6 and his family joined KCGL in 2004. At this time, he was already working
at the company. He used to work as time keeper since 1999. In 2006, he responded
to an advertisement in the company where they were looking for Fields Clerk.
However, in 2007, he was transferred to the accounts department as an Accounts
Assistant.
In 2004, the Trust decided to redistribute the land that until that time was cultivated
as a group garden. The group garden was poorly managed because of conflicts
within the group. So this gave an opportunity to 10 more individual farmers to join
Phase II. Since the sugarcane was already big, this group of farmers started enjoying
the benefits from their plots the same year .
Farmer 6 like other farmers who are also working for the company receives three
types of income in the course of the year.
His monthly salary of MK13,000 per month x 12 = MK156,000.00
His monthly advances of MK12,000 from Illovo x 12 = MK144,000.00
His share of Fairtrade Premium = MK150,000/year
This means that for the year 2009 and the 3 rd Quarter (Fairtrade Premium only) his
total income was MK450,000 10 (monthly average of MK37,500 or US$264.08) which
is about US$3,000. By Malawi rural standards, farmer 6 could be considered as a
very wealthy person.
He has accumulated the following assets since 2004:
7 bicycles for children which they use for going to school
Cement for plastering the house which he had already built and iron sheets
for his mother-in-law
Electrification of Chinangwa village, including his house.
Food security all year round
2 refrigerators, one ox-cart, a TV set, chairs and a table
A motor bike which he uses for going to work
10 Exchange rate at time of writing of MK142 to US$1.00