Stories from Malawi: Wellington
Meet Wellington, one of the smallholder farmers we’re supporting through Our Malawi Partnership.
As part of this year's Co-op Fortnight, we're telling inspirational stories and sharing updates on how we are making a positive difference through co-operation.
This year in particular, you’ll see stories from the Our Malawi Partnership initiative, which was launched last July, on the 100th International Day of Co-operatives, and is rooted in Co-op Principle 6 – co-operation among Co-operatives.
Meet Wellington, one of the smallholder farmers we’re supporting through Our Malawi Partnership
Wellington Kapakasa is a Member of Chikwatula Macadamia Co-operative Society Limited situated in Ntchisi district in central Malawi.
He is 32, married with three children and holds a Malawi Schools Certificate of Education (MSCE). He’s following in his father’s footsteps, who is a Member of the same Macadamia Co-op.
Wellington has 5 years’ experience in Macadamia farming and owns four acres of land planted with 840 macadamia trees. His greatest challenge is climate change resulting in unstable weather conditions impacting on Macadamia production. Pest and diseases also affect productivity with associated high costs of Macadamia seedling replacement.
Macadamia farming has enabled Wellington to purchase essentials such as a 3-ton truck, twelve goats and three cows. He now hopes to build a warehouse to manage his harvests more efficiently.
Your shopping choices make a difference - buying products from the Our Malawi Partnership range, available in all Central Co-op stores, supports his future.
