An Irish charity which exports farm animals to Third-World countries will mark a milestone in its history when it officially opens its first dairy plant in the African country of Malawi later this month.
The Limerick-based aid agency, Bóthar, exports livestock - including dairy cows, pigs and goats - to families in 25 developing countries to encourage self-sufficiency.
Bóthar has exported more than 300 in-calf heifers to a dairy project at Mweru Mkaka in Malawi to help poverty-stricken families. Malawi, one of the most impoverished African countries, lies at the southern end of the East African Rift Valley, bordered by Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique.
As part of Bóthar's project to encourage families to become self-sufficient, the president of the Irish Farmers Association, John Dillon, will officially open the charity's first dairy plant at Mweru Mkaka on June 27th.
The plant, run by local families, is already producing pasteurised and cultured milk, as well as yoghurt. It is hoped that more dairy products will be produced in the future.
The general secretary of Bóthar, Peter Ireton, said this was the first dairy plant established by the Irish charity and they hoped it would be the first of many.
Every family in Malawi that receives livestock from Bóthar signs a contract agreeing to pass on the first female offspring to another family in need, as well as the farming training and skills they have acquired. Bóthar aims to help impoverished families by fostering a culture of self-sufficiency.
Irish MEP Mairéad McGuinness and the Malawi minister for agriculture will also attend the official opening.