Rice Farmer Howard Msukwa's UK Tour for Fairtrade Fortnight
We are delighted to welcome Howard Msukwa!
We are delighted that Howard Msukwa, rice farmer from Northern Malawi, is 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 will be visiting schools, churches and community groups to speak about the challenges faced by the smallholder farmers and their communities. He will talk about the importance of fair trade to the farmers and their communities and will highlight the impact that climate change is having on their livelihoods. There will 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). One of the founder members when the organisation was established in 2001. Howard has since then served on its board in various roles including secretary, vice chair and chair. Howard has also served as a director of NASFAM (The National Smallholder Farmers Association of Malawi), most recently spending three years as its vice chair.
True Origin is a fair trade food importer seeking to support smallholder farmers in the global south by building mutually beneficial and empowering partnerships. In 2009, Howard was instrumental in forging a partnership between KASFA and JTS (now True Origin), a relationship which has developed and strengthened over the last 15 years.
True Origin buys and markets aromatic Kilombero rice from the farmers and over the years has been involved in the funding of a variety of projects supporting seed multiplication, education, ploughs, oxcarts, wells and irrigation. Currently True Origin Partnerships is working with the farmers on various projects including supporting groups of women farmers to develop a business making fuel briquettes from waste rice husks; and is exploring longer term irrigation solutions with the farmers.
Howard remains an advisor to the board of KASFA and acts as a link to True Origin Partnerships. We are delighted to welcome him to the UK.
On his visit Howard will be hosted firstly by Central England Coop who sell the rice through the Our Malawi Partnership. We are currently finalising plans for his visit to Scotland where he will be travelling around the country attending events from Dumfries to Aberdeen.
Public events confirmed so far include the Cornerstone Centre in Edinburgh on Thursday 12th September from 12.30-3pm. This event is hosted by True Origin/ True Origin Partnerships, One World Shop and the Scotland Malawi Partnership. Hear about the many challenges faced by Howard and his community and the joys too, and sample and buy some rice and other Fair Trade products. More details and register for the event here.
The other event confirmed so far is at Gavin’s Mill in Milngavie on Saturday 7th September from 7-9pm (tickets £10). Here you’ll get the chance to listen to Howard and c hat to him afterwards as well as taste some delicious Kilombero rice dishes cooked by the Gavin’s Mill Cafe. More details and register for the event here.
We will add the other events in Skipton, Yorkshire, Dumfries, Dundee, Perth, St Andrews, Paisley , Edinburgh, Stirling, Glasgow and Aberdeen as soon as they’re confirmed. Watch this space for updates and check out the posters below!
New Event Added in Aberdeen!
