Network for the Valorization of Plant Materials (VPMA)

Essential oils (Malawi)
(97-8535)

Principal investigator: 
Dr. Wellington Masamba: Chancellor College, University of Malawi, Zomba (Malawi)
E-mail: [email protected] 

In Malawi, the objective of the Essential oils (Malawi) Project is to adapt and apply the results of essential oil projects that have been funded elsewhere by the International Development Research Centre to initiate the commercial production of essential oils from plants grown in Malawi. In particular, the project will introduce the production of the Citronella oil and the Eucalyptus oil, based on the experiences of the Création de petites entreprises (Togo/Bénin/Ghana) Project and similar projects in Rwanda and Bolivia. The project results will be in the form of essential oils extracted locally for use in personal care and pharmaceutical products and as biopesticides. This will provide the rural population with an additional source of income, while the distillation of essential oils will create new employment opportunities. The country will benefit in terms of savings in foreign currency.