At Jacoma Estates, our commitment to achieving a positive social and economic impact extends beyond our investments and operations. We are dedicated to uplifting and enhancing the well-being of the communities where we operate through a range of initiatives. These include providing community irrigation infrastructure to mitigate the effect of climatic events such as droughts or floods, installing equipment and pipelines to improve access to drinking water, promoting gender equality, supporting local businesses and offering extensive outgrower support.
Community Irrigation
Climate change is an ongoing issue within Southern Africa and Malawi is one of the countries hardest hit by such changes. Jacoma has identified the need to use irrigation for its own farms in order mitigate the impact of climate change. Neighbouring farmers are equally exposed to climate risks and for these farmers the impact of a drought can be catastrophic. As a result Jacoma has assisted the community to source funding for irrigation. As a pilot project, Jacoma has installed 100 ha of irrigation infrastructure within community areas. Through a cooperation arrangement, Jacoma and the community will share the costs of sourcing the water and Jacoma will provide a guaranteed offtake and market for key crops which the farmers can include in their crop rotations. The objective is to remove the market risk for the farmers through the offtake contract while at the same time assisting the farmers to meet or exceed production targets through the use of irrigation. The benefit is that farmers are able to grow two crops instead of one which will increase food security and allow farmers to boost their income.
Access to Drinking Water
In Malawi many villages and communities do not have immediate access to water. People have to walk long distances to collect river water for domestic use, such as washing clothes. Near our estates we have installed a number of water tanks which are filled via our irrigation network. We have also installed a 3,000L per hour water clarifier to clean the water before it is delivered to schools and community collection points. These water sources allow local communities to access a water source within the community for domestic use. The result is a reduction of up to 10km in the distance people walk to collect water.
Promoting Gender Equality
We are committed to promoting gender equality and equal opportunities, both within our operations and among our outgrower farmers. Our policies are aimed at empowering women in agriculture, creating an inclusive workplace and bridging the gender gap in rural communities.
Supporting Local Business
We aim to empower local communities by fostering and supporting local businesses, thereby acting as a catalyst for positive impact beyond its farms. For example Northern Honey Processors, a beekeeping business, which has several hundred bee hives housed within our main estate. By providing a secure environment for the bees, Northern Honey have been able to increase the number of colonies and hives, and their production of high-quality honey. In return Jacoma benefits from the bees' natural pollination of our macadamia trees. This symbiotic relationship enhances the yield and quality of our macadamia harvest, while also promoting biodiversity and ecological health. Through such mutually beneficial partnerships, Jacoma is proud to be an active and responsible member of the local village economies in a manner that empowers entrepreneurs, and contributes to a thriving, sustainable community.
Outgrower Support
Beyond the employment opportunities provided by the nucleus estates, Jacoma also provides quality seed, training and market access to smallholder farmers. Farmers are provided with a contract that guarantees market access and a minimum price for their products. With the support of our partners, Jacoma is also exploring innovative and creative opportunities to support smallholder farmers by providing irrigation infrastructure and new technologies to limit the impact of climatic events such as droughts and floods, as well as pest and soil fertility.