A conversation with Howard Msukwa, rice farmer from Malawi
True Origin (previously JTS ) has been working with rice farmers from Northern Malawi since 2009, importing and marketing wonderful aromatic Kilombero rice.
Participants at the event...
- Learned from True Origin about the joys and challenges of running a fair trade social enterprise.
- Heard from Howard about the importance of fair trade to the farmers and the valuable partnership that has developed between our organisations.
- Learned first-hand about the effects of climate change on the farmers livelihoods and about projects that we can support to help mitigate its impact
- Bought some Kilombero rice!
Howard Msukwa
We were delighted that Howard Msukwa, rice farmer from Northern Malawi, was visiting the UK in September 2024 at the invitation of True Origin (previously JTS) and True Origin Partnerships (previously The Balmore Trust).
During Fairtrade fortnight Howard visited schools, churches and community groups to speak about the challenges faced by the smallholder farmers and their communities. He spoke about the importance of fair trade to the farmers and their communities and highlighted the impact that climate change is having on their livelihoods.
There was an opportunity to hear about ways in which we can work together with the farmers and their communities to continue to build capacity and mitigate the effects of climate change.
Howard is a member of KASFA (Kaporo Smallholder Farmer Association).
Programme
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: presentations
- Brief presentation from True Origin,
- Interview with Howard Msukwa-Q+A
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm: meet and greet with Howard and some of the True Origin team.
Both before and after the main presentations there was time to meet Howard informally over a cup of fairtrade tea and coffee, to sample some delicious True Origin fair trade products, and to buy fair trade goods from a One World Shop stall.
Resources
Missed this meeting? You can find the recording on this page with the below time stamps.
