Statutory registration compliance key driver to RTC commercialization

The Root and Tuber Crops Development Trust (RTCDT) secretariat says statutory registration compliance and trading as formal businesses withing the value chain is the only way to kickstart meaningful RTC commercialization being sought by its members.

From the fall of 2022, the RTCDT commenced a targeted exercise to engage members on a membership Audit and Statutory Compliance Capacity Building and Technical Assistance (TA) Needs Assessment. 

The objective was to engage members to be on an active pathway to become registered businesses and commercialise as recommended by the 4 symposia held in the year in partnership with Irish Aid and PRIDE projects. 

To be successfully set on the pathway, the targeted RTC groups for statutory and formal business registration compliance support and TA had to meet the 3 primary requirements i.e (a) Be intending to be trading and supported as corporatives/groups or company. (b) Be able to pay for own registration fees or seek support for the same on their own. (c) Be members of the RTCDT. 

The exercise has led to updating of data base online and also informed the Trust on  the needs  for capacity building-in partnership with ministry of trade-to develop, commit to and implement a unique road map and resources.

The wants move individual members based on current needs and status towards commercialisation via the RTCDT minimum 5-stripe model of 1. SME registration with ministry of trade. 2. MRA TPIN. 3. MRA Tax Clearance and 4. PPDA Certification. 5. RTCDT Membership as recommended by the Root and Tuber Crops (RTC) Stakeholders and Statutory Regulators Symposium of June 2021.

The targeted groups in 2022/2023 are Chongoni Potato Cooperative (Potato Seed and Ware/table potato- Dedza), Kanyama Potato Cooperative (Poato Seed and Ware/table potato – Dedza),  Nankungwi Potato Cooperative (Potato Seed and Ware/table potato- Ntcheu), Umodzi Cooperative (OFSP Seed and Produce- Nsanje), Mathiya Cooperative (Cassava and OFSP Processor- Mulanje), Mgwirizano Cooperative (Cassava Processor-Thyolo),  Limbikani Cooperative (Cassava Processor-Nkhatabay), Nsanama Women Cooperative (Cassava Produce and Processor – Machinga), Nsanama Women Cooperative (Cassava Produce and Processor – Machinga), Namitembo Farms (Cassava Produce-Zomba), Mphazi Cassava Club -Chitsime EPA (Cassava Seed-Lilongwe) and Bazale, Utale and Phalula Corporatives (Balaka-OFSP).

All the targeted groups except Mgwirizano Cooperative of Thyolo District are on 100 percent achieving the full commercialisation validation and should have completed by end of Malawi government financial year March 2023.

The Trust intend to support 30 more members to register as formal businesses by December 2024.

During the RTCDT Members Statutory Compliance Capacity Building and Technical Assistance (TA), The RTCDT was accompanied by Ministry of Trade and Ministry of Industry desk officers to clarify emerging issues member groups wanted to inquire on.