NASFAM

National Smallholder Farmers Association of Malawi (NASFAM) was set up to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers by developing their commercial capacity and delivering programmes which enhance productivity, gender equality and food security. NASFAM has 64,800 members (29,700 women) and is headquartered in Malawi's capital Lilongwe and district associations throughout the country

Twin and NASFAM Partnership

In 2002, Twin started working with NASFAM to develop the first Fairtrade standard for peanuts and traded their first container of certified nuts in 2005. We subsequently worked closely with NASFAM to set up the Fairtrade nut brand Liberation Foods (49% farmer-owned and 27% owned by Twin), which was launched in June 2007.

Projects

Work is currently underway to improve Quality Management and traceability at NASFAM to enable access to stringently controlled international markets. Afri-Nut, a peanut processing plant set up by Twin in Malawi’s capital Lilongwe, enables the farmers to add value before export. Twin also works with NASFAM to promote gender equality and strengthen management information systems.

		training using the Gender Action Learning System (GALS) for women’s empowerment
		8,600 farmers trained in good agricultural practice in 2012/13
		strengthening traceability systems and monitoring & evaluation
		management manuals developed and interventions and advocacy on food safety issues (aflatoxin control)
		established UK market for Fairtrade peanuts through creation of Liberation