Founded in 2015, Afri Processors specialises in exporting cold-pressed oils in bulk, including moringa, castor, and baobab oils. The company sources its raw materials from women in Chikwawa, Nsanje and Salima districts.
“We are proud to contribute to the Malawi economy by creating employment opportunities, empowering rural women who sell us seeds, encouraging tree planting and bringing in foreign exchange,” says founder Yamikani Bvumbwe.
The Growth Accelerator grant comes at a critical time for Afri Processors, which has been growing organically and now needs capital to support its expansion.
“Our clients in export markets demand top-quality products delivered promptly. We intend to invest in machinery that will speed up our production time while enhancing quality. For example, a desheller would streamline our labour-intensive process of removing kernels from moringa seeds, which can damage some seeds and lead to losses. This investment will also allow us to expand our workforce,” Bvumbwe explains.
With the Growth Accelerator funds, the company anticipates accelerating its growth plans, achieving in two years what would have otherwise taken five.
Afri Processors aims to start retailing its products in Malawi and neighbouring countries, such as South Africa and Zambia.
Currently, the firm only exports only in bulk to companies that repackage and market its products. By the end of the GA programme, however, it aspires to solidify its position as one of the largest producers of essential oils in the SADC region.
It also aims to increase its network of outgrowers and share the knowledge it has gained over the years.
