Recent rainfall has had positive affect on the weather. Drop in temperature brought much relief from the heat and the National Meteorological Department predicts plenty more rainfall. Since it is still early in the year, Malawi could be in for some flooding in the months ahead. The local communities, especially the one in the low-lying areas, have already been warned on expected flood developments. Initial rainfalls coupled with storms have already damaged the living quarters of our compounds. Heavy winds, in the meanwhile, have damaged the power-lines and many nights were without available electricity. This adversely affected production and increased fuel consumption for the month, due to continuous running of the generators. The estimated power failure for the month so far is in the region of 100-120 hours.

The Malawi government has issued subsidized fertilizers (starter packs) to the small-scale farmers. Villagers are pleased on this gesture of the government as it allows the small-scale farmers to get expensive fertilizers at cheap rates, which can used to sustain the crop for the season.

The year is coming to an end and reports have shown that the country’s economy has stayed stable throughout the year. The food supply has been reasonably good due to last season’s strong harvest. The farming community is expected to produce a healthy crop this year, bearing in mind the prediction of the rainfall.

The rainfall has brought about a change in the crop pattern and workers are highly motivated for the harvest season ahead. The change is quite visible on the estate with more workers turning up for the harvest and the daily harvesting group increasing from 580 - 600 pluckers per day to 700 – 720 pluckers per day. The introduction of the shears (a hand held mechanical harvester which is a regular feature when the main harvest season starts) has brought about a 30% increase in the productivity, which means additional income for the pluckers.

The estate plans to extend the area for tea by 8 hectares more this season, on the top of the already extended 40 hectares in the last two years. With positive changes in weather and available ground moisture, the plantation has also started. This month alone the estate will complete 4 hectares of the new clearing, and expects the entire area to be completed by January next year.

Tea pruning, which is a process of rejuvenating the tea bush, is done once in three years (3-year cycle) during the rainfall period. This season the pruning started in December. The estate has moved from the joint combination of hand pruning and mechanized method to an entirely machine one. This enables to complete the cycle at a large scale and helps to shift most of the workers engaged in pruning to harvesting much quicker.

The communities around are assured that the current rainfall is going to give a bounty crop this season and have started planting maize with the first rains. This year the community is already prepared to cultivate the land in anticipation of an early rain and with the season commencing the planting is expected to complete early.