Irrigation Update

Nicola Taylor • November 23, 2018

Since our last update, it has been a while, we have been doing some amazing work alongside KASFA.

We have now constructed 8 wells and 8 solar pumps like the ones shown in the picture to the left. Rochelle, the director of The Centre for Water and Sanitation has been able to place 2 BSc students in Karonga to work alongside KASFA on water stewardship issues as well as Alice, the MSc student funded under the irrigation grant.

Rochelle and Mphatso Malota, the irrigation engineer from Mzuzu University Holm visited KASFA from Tuesday 6th November to Thursday 8th November 2018. This gave them the opportunity to meet the ABM (Association Business Manager), Mr. Mangandale, visit KASFA farmers, see the progress of MSc student, Alice, and assist the two BSc students, Tiwonge and Margret, as they start their research internship with KASFA.

They both also visited the farm of Mr. Makasangula, and got the opportunity see the solar pump in action and can see that it is working very well for Mr. Makasagula.

Mzuzu University was recently visited by Abertay University as an assessment of the Climate Justice Fund and work towards SDG6 (Sustainable Development Goal 6). It was a great meeting and the team were impressed with how the project with Balmore Trust is linking to a local academic institution.

The two BSc students, Tiwonge and Margret, have already started their study, it will specifically focus on the following objectives:

1. Map water usage of two communities.
2. Analyse drinking water quality of home and farm sources.
3. Recommend improvements in the link between productive use of domestic water, poverty reduction, and sustainability.

JTS would like to wish Tiwonge and Margret the best of luck with their studies.

Hopefully, we will be able to provide you with a further update on the irrigation project soon.

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A woman standing at church fair trade stall with lots of delicious fair trade products available

How to Run a True Origin Fair Trade Stall at Your Church

By Nicola Taylor • July 3, 2026

A Fair Trade stall is about so much more than selling tea, coffee and chocolate. Every purchase supports smallholder farmers and producers who are working incredibly hard to build sustainable livelihoods in the face of climate change, rising fuel costs and an unpredictable global market. For many of the communities we work with, having reliable customers is essential. By running a True Origin stall at your church, you become part of that support network, helping to create regular demand for products that often aren't available in supermarkets or high street shops. Whether your church is passionate about global justice, caring for creation or simply making a practical difference, a Fair Trade stall is a simple but powerful way to turn those values into action. Start Small You don't need a huge team or a large budget to get started. Begin by talking with your church leaders about the idea. Many churches are happy to provide a small loan or donation to purchase initial stock, particularly if it can be repaid gradually as sales grow. Remember that most of the income from a stall is best reinvested into buying more stock rather than raising money for church funds. This helps keep the stall sustainable and ensures producers continue to receive orders. If you're new to running a stall, don't worry, you won't be on your own. The True Origin team and experienced Fair Traders are always happy to share advice and practical tips.