True Origin Partnerships provided a grant for KASFA rice farmers in Northern Malawi whose crops have been severly affected by drought.  We have been able to offer a grant for irrigation pumps for immediate use, and are now aiming to develop a longer term project to work with KASFA to convert to solar powered irrigation.

We were delighted to support Meru Herbs with a grant covering the cost of the audit required to achieve WFTO guaranteed member status. 

True Origin Partnerships were delighted to be able to provide power packs for Barrett’s Ridge whose production has been severely impacted by South Africa’s programme of Load Shedding (planned rolling power blackouts). A small grant enabled them to purchase a Jackerey Power pack as a back up power source to enable work to continue. 

True Origin Partnerships have a Bursary Fund where they are covering university fees for a student studying agricultural economics at the University of Malawi.  The student then shares his knowledge with others in his community so they can all learn together.

Grace Mwanguti, a rice farmer in Karonga, Northern Malawi sought support for her vision of a woman-led business producing fuel briquettes from waste rice husks.  

This project aims to support the development of the business and to offer training and business skills to two groups of women in rural communities. It aims to reduce the back breaking women’s work of collecting firewood, and to generate useful cooking fuel for use both locally and to sell. It aims to support work against climate change by reducing deforestation, and to reduce the environmental impact of rotting rice husks by turning them into useful cooking fuel.

Thanks to generous support from donors we have been able to help the women build two brick buildings for production of the briquettes. We are delighted that they are also being used as a focal point for women to gather in the two communities. Briquette machines have been purchased and are now able to produce fuel briquettes for local use. This project was awarded the Scottish Fair Trade Forum Climate Partnership Award in 2021.

Strengthening Consumer confidence in Kilombero rice by achieving WFTO (World Fair Trade Organisation) verification 2019-2021.

This is in addition to the rice already claiming the Ethical Consumer's Best Buy for rice, and acheiving Great Taste Awards several times.

Worked with the KASFA rice farmers in the development of improved water resources in Karonga, Northern Malawi.