Women thriving in Agrifood system

Jeyie Foods is a Malawian agribusiness and social enterprise founded by Jacqueline Joyreen Banda, driven by a personal mission to combat malnutrition and empower rural communities. The initiative began when Jacqueline successfully treated her malnourished cousin using homemade peanut butter. Realizing the lack of accessible, affordable nutritional supplements like Plumpy Nuts in remote areas, she was inspired to create locally made, nutrient-rich food products that could save lives while also creating economic opportunities for women and youth.

The company focuses on value addition of locally grown crops such as groundnuts, maize, soya, and chili, transforming them into affordable and nutritious products like peanut butter, chili sauce, porridge flour, and vinegar. Jeyie Foods works directly with over 378 smallholder women farmers and 268 youth, off-taking their produce and offering a reliable market. In return, the enterprise processes the raw materials into fortified food products that meet national quality standards. This model not only improves community nutrition but also strengthens local agricultural value chains.

Beyond production, Jeyie Foods emphasizes capacity building. The company trains women and youth in food processing, aflatoxin control, and basic business management using a trainer-of-trainers model. It also encourages savings culture through Village Savings and Loan (VSL) groups, enabling financial resilience among its members. To ensure sustainability, Jeyie Foods promotes climate-smart practices such as planting fertilizer trees, moringa, and maintaining backyard gardens of indigenous vegetables.

• C/O Mrs J.J Banda Malawi Assemblies of God Mangochi, Alaska
• Jacqueline Joyreen banda
• +265996543250
• jacquejeyie@gmail.com