PUMOLA investments

Malawi faces the challenge of under-utilised crops that have significant potential for economic development. These crops, such as pumpkin seeds, Jatropha seeds, sunflower seeds, cotton seeds, and avocados, are often overlooked and not effectively monetized. Additionally, there is a lack of locally produced and affordable cooking oil, leading to a heavy reliance on imported oil and limited access for the population.

PUMOLA aims to address these challenges by revolutionising the cooking oil industry in Malawi. The solution involves empowering Malawian farmers that cultivate underutilised crops, specifically focusing on pumpkin seeds, Jatropha seeds, sunflower seeds, cotton seeds, and avocados. These crops have the potential to produce high-quality and healthy cooking oil.

PUMOLA's business model revolves around establishing a cooperative network of farmers who will supply the underutilised crops for cooking oil extraction. The extracted oil will be refined and packaged under the PUMOLA brand. The cooking oil will be distributed through various channels, including local markets, supermarkets, and partnerships with wholesalers and retailers.

Additionally, PUMOLA intends to sell the cooking oil by-product ( seed cake) as animal feed to the farmers. We hope that this approach will help address the concern of using maize bran as animal feed, which can compete with human food consumption and impact food security.

The cooking oil industry in Malawi is currently dominated by imported brands, with limited local production. PUMOLA's focus on utilising underutilised crops and its integrated approach of producing soap and detergent from by-products sets it apart from traditional cooking oil manufacturers. While there may be some local competitors, PUMOLA's emphasis on quality, health benefits, and sustainable practices can give it a unique selling proposition.