Packaged Honey by Chamunya Cooperative
Story By Lonely Mandiwa Msowoya – Mzimba North TIS
What began as a small group of passionate farmers in Northern Malawi has transformed into a thriving business that is sweetening both incomes and livelihoods. Euthini Bee Keepers Cooperative which is now proudly called Chamunya Cooperative has become a shining example of how the Agricultural Commercialization (AGCOM 2) Program is turning rural dreams into profitable realities.
Nestled under Euthini EPA in Mzimba North, the cooperative now boasts an impressive 650 beehives, 500 of which were acquired through AGCOM’s support. This expansion is not just about more hives, it’s about more hope for the cooperative.
The membership for Chamunya Cooperativehas growtn from a few to a big family of farmers because of the achievements the cooperative is registering with support from AGCOM 2.
In just one year, the cooperative’s membership has grown from 182 members in May 2024 to 255 members in 2025. According to the chairperson of the cooperative, Mr. Kennedy Ndhlovu, this surge is a direct result of AGCOM 2’s targeted support through matching grant.
“AGCOM 2 has not only given us equipment but also knowledge. Through cooperative education and management training, we’ve become stronger as a group. Our success inspired others in the community to join us,” Ndhlovu explained with a smile.
The expansion in numbers has brought fresh energy, ideas, and ambition, turning the cooperative into a hub of bee-keeping excellence in the district. The cooperative is now a model.
The cooperative is now harvesting more honey and is earning more money. The transformation in production is nothing short of remarkable. In 2024, the group harvested 1,000 kilograms of honey. This year, that figure has quadrupled to 4,200 kilograms in just six months with a push from AGCOM 2.
“With the help of our Technical Implementation Support (TIS) Broker, we secured a reliable off-taker, Kwithu Kitchen, and negotiated better prices,” said Ndhlovu.
“We’ve moved from MK 3,600 per kilogram last year to MK 5,000 per kilogram now, and that has changed everything for us,” the cooperative Chairperson added.
The resulting benefit is that the cooperative income that once stood at MK 3.6 million in 2024 has now risen to about MK 21 million in 2025.
According to Ndhlovu, the cooperative has taken its success to different forums such as district agriculture fair. This year, for the first time, the cooperative showcased its products at the Mzimba North District Agriculture Fair, and it walked away with recognition and respect.
“It was a proud moment,” said Cooperative Secretary Mr. Nkhata. “We proved that rural farmers can produce premium quality honey that meet market standards, and we made valuable business connections.”
This success is a result of AGCOM 2’s sweet intervention in turning the cooperative to move from subsistence to commercial farming.
Through the AGCOM 2 matching grant facility, the cooperative developed a honey commercialization business proposal valued at MK 119.9 million. AGCOM 2 approved a 70% matching grant of MK 83.93 million, with the cooperative contributing 10% in cash and 20% in kind.
Before receiving the grant funds, members underwent extensive training in bookkeeping, cooperative management, procurement, environmental and social management, group dynamics, and sustainable beekeeping practices.
With the first tranche of MK 41.71 million, the cooperative invested in modern equipment including hundreds of beehives, protective bee suits, smokers, honey extraction machines, and honey pressers.
They also drilled a borehole to ensure water availability for production. In addition, members received specialized training in modern honey harvesting, processing techniques, and sustainable management practices that protect natural habitats.
“We learned how to handle bees in a way that maximizes production while preserving the environment,” said Ndhlovu. “It’s not just about honey, it’s about long-term sustainability.”
The cooperative also gained the skills to negotiate with buyers, enabling them to secure stable contracts at higher prices.
The sweet results from AGCOM 2 support are now visible. The change has been transformational. Production has more than quadrupled, the quality of honey now meets premium standards, and the price per kilogram has risen sharply. Farmers have moved from struggling to make ends meet to enjoying reliable, increased incomes.
“Before AGCOM 2, we were selling at MK 3,600 per kilogram. Now we sell at MK 5,000, and we have the capacity to supply larger orders without compromising quality,” said Nkhata.
For many members, this means they can send children to school, invest in their homes, and reinvest in their farming activities.
Looking into the future, Chamunya Cooperative sees brighter light and the sky is now the limit. AGCOM has given them a push and the cooperative is on its way to becoming an independent business.
Although the journey is far from over with the second tranche of funding, the cooperative plans to build a modern processing and packaging facility to add value to their honey, increase production to over 15,000 kilograms a year, and tap into new domestic and regional markets.
They also hope to share their expertise with other farmer groups to spread sustainable beekeeping practices across Malawi. “Our vision is to be Malawi’s leading honey producer known for quality, sustainability, and empowering rural farmers,” Ndhlovu said, adding that with AGCOM 2’s support, that dream is no longer far away.
From hive to harvest, Euthini (Chamunya) Bee Keepers Cooperative is proving that with the right support, rural farmers can produce world-class products, earn better incomes, and inspire entire communities. For donors, policy makers, and development partners, this is not just a sweet story, it’s a clear return on investment in Malawi’s agricultural transformation.
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