Inosselia hails greenhouse farm for creating opportunities

Inosselia Commercial has praised GBI Greenhouse Limited (GGL) for its contribution to Malawi’s economy through agricultural production, job creation, import substitution, and export opportunities.

Inosselia, a global multinational company, manages Malawi’s sole large-scale greenhouse-based vegetable farm near Kamuzu International Airport under a seven-year joint venture with the government through the Greenbelt Authority.

Speaking in an exclusive interview, Inosselia Commercial Board Chairperson Izhak Kanes said GGL was making a significant contribution by producing premium bell peppers, tomatoes, watermelons and butternuts throughout the year for local and international markets.

He said the farm was helping strengthen domestic food production while generating foreign exchange through exports and reducing the need for imported produce.

“GGL is truly helping strengthen domestic food production, generate foreign exchange, create employment, develop local skills and expertise, and contribute to Malawi’s broader economic development,” said Kanes.

The project was conceived in 2018 following discussions between President Peter Mutharika and Kanes, with the initiative later championed by the late Goodall Gondwe, who was then Minister of Finance.

After more than six years of operation, GGL has established itself as an example of import substitution and export-driven agriculture in Malawi.

The farm currently produces more than 20 tonnes of tomatoes, 10 tonnes of bell peppers, 24,000 watermelons and 24,000 butternuts each month.The project employs 130 Malawians and is managed by a local team led by farm manager Tamandani Chanza.

Kanes said Inosselia’s decision to invest in the agricultural project was driven by more than financial considerations, including the desire to contribute to rural economic development and create opportunities for women, young people and disadvantaged rural communities.

“The objective was to identify and develop a commercially viable venture that could contribute meaningfully to Malawi, particularly the development of the rural economy and the creation of opportunities for women, young people, and disadvantaged rural communities,” he said.

Kanes said the project demonstrated how agriculture could transform challenging environments into productive spaces when investment, hard work and commitment were combined.

He said the joint venture with the government could serve as a model for other international and domestic investors considering opportunities in Malawi.

According to Inosselia Country Director for Malawi Michael Gorelik, the project’s results have significantly exceeded the original expectations.

He said the farm demonstrated that a well-structured partnership between government and the private sector could be successfully implemented and operated commercially while delivering economic and social benefits.

GGL covers approximately 27 hectares, including 16 state-of-the-art greenhouses, each covering one hectare and providing protected cultivation for the farm’s crops.

The farm has 10 boreholes, each approximately 70 metres deep, supplying water through an underground network connected to computerised irrigation and fertigation systems.The facility also includes a packing house, cold-storage facilities, and a training and demonstration centre.

Gorelik said all 16 greenhouses were operating at full production capacity throughout the year, making the farm a reliable supplier of fresh vegetables to the local market and beyond.He said the farm supplies leading supermarkets, hotels and resorts, wholesalers, retailers and local markets.

Kanes said the company’s ambition extended beyond vegetable production, with a focus on creating opportunities and contributing to Malawi’s long-term development.”Our ambition is not only to grow vegetables, it is to grow hope, opportunity and a better future,” he said.