Covid-19 Producer Support Appeal Update

Nicola Taylor • June 12, 2020

An update from Eswatini and KASFA on how they are using the funds

Eswatini Kitchen and Woman Farmer Foundation, through the support of JTS (Just Trading Scotland), will be implementing a short term project where they will supply small-holder farmers with soaps and disinfectants and also educate and sensitize farmers on Covid-19. The short term project will further ensure that producers still have access to markets such as Eswatini Kitchen in order to keep the food chain moving despite the current situation the world is faced with.

Eswatini Kitchen (ESK) has taken a number of preventative measures to make sure that the virus does not spread by providing ESK staff with soap wash basins, masks, sanitizers, enforced social distancing inside the factory and also prevent non-essential visits at the factory. The short term project will build on the above initiatives that ESK has implemented to ensure that the virus does not spread and that they are able to continue supplying JTS whilst still adhering to food safety standards. In that regard of continuous supply, ESK will be working with Woman Farmer Foundation (ESK) an NGO that links ESK with smallholder women and youth farmers that supply ESK with fresh produce such as lime, tomatoes, cayenne pepper, birds’ eye chilli, grapefruits and onions. A lot of information is needed in the rural communities about how farmers and their workers can enforce precautions at the fields to safeguard workers and ensure that food safety systems are in place and that they wash their hands regularly whilst maintaining social distancing.

The project outcomes will be improved knowledge on Covid-19 prevention and continuous supply of fresh produce which will result in less disruption of the food supply chain.

Sonia Paiva, the Managing Director of Eswatini Kitchen, had this to say “The Woman Farmer Team is doing well with the progress of the Covid19 project. We hope and pray that you will be able to secure some more funding. We have been told that schools are opening and grade 7, grade 9 and 12 will be the first ones to attend classes. Most of our schools in the rural areas do not even have running water yet, but we will see what other support we will be able to provide.”

DONATE NOW

Meanwhile in Malawi ...

JTS buy Kilombero rice from the Kaporo Smallholder Farmer Association (KASFA) in Karonga, Northern Malawi. They gratefully received the first lot of donations and have put these to good use by providing Personal Protective Equipment such as gloves, masks, aprons, goggles, thermometers etc to a rural health centre and a rural hospital. These two facilities are in the areas where most of the rice farmers live and grow the award winning Kilombero rice. The Chairperson of KASFA, Twebo Ng'oma, said "We expect the PPE would enhance the health workers efforts in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic in the area.

He then went on to acknowledge that "rice farmers play a critical role in the country's socio economic growth" and that "the pandemic has hit the rice industry hard" This just emphasises our need to do more, to keep on seeking donations which will help our producers and the health care facilities in these communities and to continue to support them in this fight against coronavirus.

In light of this and the fact that we still have to reach our target, we urge that if you can spare even just a few £'s, that you consider the plight of these producers and donate to our Total Giving page.

The donations made the local newspaper in Karonga, the excerpt is below.

DONATE NOW