Project Report
| Apr 4, 2013
You brought success to farmers and rural families in Malawi
By Ian Haisley | Director of Online Strategy
With your support, we are funding the loans, services and expansion that allow smallholder farmers to increase their crops and grow more food. As harvest quality and quantities rise, food security improves, school fees are paid, homes are improved and jobs are created, families and the local community reap the benefits. Through this project, you are allowing Opportunity to extend a full range of financial services to rural Malawi, including access to savings accounts and the provision of comprehensive, crop-specific agricultural loans to farmers.
- Opportunity Malawi’s ability to expand agricultural lending has been reduced by the continuing macroeconomic issues in the country including high inflation. Fuel continues to be in short supply, limiting the ability to manage the rural program as well as affecting the mobile vans.
- In the second quarter, Opportunity Malawi disbursed 18,788 agriculture loans, up from 16,183 in the first quarter. At the end of June, the bank had 16,522 loans to farmers, up from 13,149 in the prior quarter with an outstanding agriculture portfolio nearly tripling to value $3.7 million.
- The bank is now lending to smallholder farmers in soya, paprika, coffee, groundnuts, tea, Irish potatoes, tobacco, maize and sugarcane.
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Jan 17, 2013
You Changed Everything for Brenda
By Emily Terrell | Online Community Specialist
![Client Brenda Mwenitete]()
Client Brenda Mwenitete
Brenda Mwenitete is the hardworking owner of a knitting shop in the Chitipa Market. She recalls the challenges she faced before approaching Opportunity, struggling to earn a profit without a knitting machine.
You gave Brenda the opportunity and today, with the right equipment, she has increased production and her income significantly. With operating capital, she has effectively reduced the number of trips into Lilongwe, the capital city, to purchase raw materials – traveling once per month instead of weekly has allowed her to lower costs, increasing her net profit. With a broader inventory and improved ability to fill orders, she has broken the barriers that barred her from earning a profit. Brenda recently purchased two knitting machines and hired an employee, stretching her impact beyond her own transformation to extend to the larger community influencing the economy through job creation. She enjoys the relationship she has with her Trust Group and praises the way in which bank staff visits customers frequently to mentor and support. “My loan officer has been my lifeline, instilling a sense of belonging in the community.” Brenda has transformed into a respected businesswoman and she has employed her new sense of confidence to take on a leadership role as group secretary.
Brenda formed the dream; you gave her the opportunity to make it a reality. On behalf of Betha and Brenda and thousands of other families, thank you very much for your partnership.
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Oct 14, 2012
Opportunity Malawi Weathers the Economic Storm
By Emily Terrell | Online Community Specialist
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Opportunity Malawi weathers the economic storm, with your partnership
Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, with 90% of the population living below $2 a day. Macroeconomic issues in 2010-2011 continued into 2012, hitting the poorest families the hardest. Under new president, Joyce Banda, Malawi is recovering from the effects of the former president’s actions. With the international donor community supporting the new administration, fuel availability and cost and foreign exchange are improving the outlook. Amidst the economic turbulence, Opportunity Malawi made adjustments to meet the needs of struggling families and marched forward with its outreach goals.
Our global network team is ensuring that Opportunity Malawi emerges from the economic crisis stronger as a result of our continued focus on our mission, vision and long-term strategy. During the first half of the year, Opportunity Malawi achieved increased outreach in the following ways:
- Opened two new kiosks in Q2 2012, one in Blantyre and another in Mulanje.
- Added 22 mobile van stops serving farmer families at the Lujeri Tea Estates.
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