Catholic priest weighs in on Misuku coffee growers’ exploitation
Father Bernard Silungwe, parish priest of St. Mathias Mulumba in Chitipa of the Diocese of Karonga, has said there is need for the Church, government and various other stakeholders to come to the rescue of hundreds of smallholder coffee farmers who go through massive exploitation.
Silungwe voiced out the concern during Catholic’s national commemoration of Mission Sunday organised by the Pontifical Mission Society (PMS) in the country.
Silungwe said it was “sad” that most of the farmers do not reap from their sweat.
Farmers in Misuku contribute substantially to world acclaimed and cherished Mzuzu Coffee through their Misuku Coffee Growers Cooperative.
“We must all come together and support them. Most of the time they work hard for nothing,” said Silungwe.
He revealed that it was mostly “unscrupulous traders who exploit the farmers by buying the coffee” at dismal prices.
On this, Father Silungwe called on government and non-governmental organisations to put in place that can help protect the farmers.
Silungwe also called on the faithful to protect the environment by refraining from wanton cutting down of trees.
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