McDonald Nguluwe has been a coffee farmer with the Smallholder Coffee Farmers Trust (SCFT) in Malawi since 1999. The Trust was established that same year as part of the restructuring of the Smallholder Coffee Authority, a government parastatal. Coffee grown by smallholder farmers is now processed and marketed by the Trust which operates as a union of smallholder coffee growers organized within 5 associations.

McDonald lives in the Chibavi area within the Trust’s growing zones near Nkhata Bay. In addition to 2 tons of coffee, McDonald grows bananas, pineapples, cassava and maize. His wife sells the bananas and pineapples in the local market to generate a cash flow for everyday needs. Coffee is paid out once a year in a lump sum and allows him to make more long-term investments.

McDonald is very pleased with the improving quality of SFCT coffees and has directly benefited from higher prices. In 2005, and partly due to SFCT being the national cupping winner, farmers are being paid 13% more for their crop. This additional income has allowed McDonald to begin construction on a house, purchase a television and pay the school fees for his 7 children. His wife, Annie Kamanga, has also begun planting coffee after seeing the success of her husband. Her husband is also now encouraged to do more and has set his personal target at producing 3 tons.

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