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Aid pull out threatens Pama
By
Chisomo Chibwana - 03-04-2002 |
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The future of the Paprika Association of Malawi (Pama)—established a couple of years ago to promote the growth of paprika crop as an alternative foreign exchange earner to tobacco—remains uncertain after one of its principal financiers, the Royal Danish Embassy, announced the pull-out from the country.
Pama president Borax Kamakanda said the closure of the embassy has left the association in financial difficulties to fund its operations and programmes.
He said Pama has not yet found an alternative source of funding.
“We are thinking of coming up with our own ways of generating income to sustain the association. Pama is an organisation which is very important to Paprika growers in the country and considering that the country has just ventured into paprika farming we have to give Pama a chance to survive for it is a major source of technical advice to paprika farmers,” said Kamakanda in an interview.
He said many farmers have benefited from Pama’s technical help and advice on paprika farming.
“We are currently thinking of introducing a levy which will be paid by farmers to the association but we know that this will not be enough. We need to find other ways of finding money,” said Kamakanda.
Denmark announced the withdrawal of aid from K1.2 billion to K228 million this year, citing corruption, interference with judiciary and political intolerance as reasons for the action.
Malawi will, however, not receive any assistance from next year from the Danish government, throwing the future of a number of NGO run programmes into uncertainty. |
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