Greg's dispach

I've spent just over two weeks in Malawi and Mozambique and have had the opportunity to observe farms both big and small ( in relative terms) both from passing by along our road travels and from farm visits. I can say it is truelly amazing the variety of crops that can be grown side by side in this part of the world. In many respects such as rainy and dry season much of Malawi reminds me of northern Australia, but one farm I visited near Blantyre had much the sam plants - and weeds - that yoyu would expect to see back home along Petrie Creek on the Sunshine Coast. Despite the availability of suitable irrigation water during the dry season not just from the ability to make dams but also from having the 3rd largest freshwater lake on the world on their doorstep, Malawi has not developed to any significant extent its irrigation potential. Illovo Sugar in the south of the country is one notable exception, and I have been encouraged but the smaller irrigation activities I've seen on other farms - when there isn't a local pump house or neighbours who run their own irrigation setups that you can look at over the fence to get some ideas it has to leave you at a distinct disadvantage. The lack of government funding and to some extent planning has also been a dampener on irrigation expansion, and also the lack of capital that small farmers can access.
Credit is one other significant disincentive to businesses of all sectors - in both countries farmers and businesspeople say they cannot get local finance at less that 22%. The lack of infrastructure is also a problem, as is the knowledge and expertise to service farms and businesses in this part of the world. The two Australian farmers in Mozambique had to get parts regularly from South Africa or even from Australia. Malawi experiences problems with its produce because it is a landlocked nation.
In all this I can say that there is great potential for the expansion of sustainable agriculture in Malawi and Mozambique - so many crops can be grow nearly side by side from the likes of rice, mangoes and bananas to having nearby maize, soyabeans and sweet potatoes. The problems aren't with growing crops but in what you do with them after they come of the paddock and how you go about making money from them.
I can say also that I've been greatly heartened by the attiude of the local rotarians wherever we've gone - not just in their hospitality towards us but in their desire to improve their communities through both expanding trade and the local economy and also directly helping those who through circumstances such as disability or being orphaned are unable to help themselves. May God bless you all.

Greg.