SUNESMA has established revolving funds to provide credit for its members to obtain hybrid maize and fertilisers.

Further revolving funds have been established to provide credit for buying macadamia seedlings and setting up small businesses.

Materials such as seed, fertiliser, equipment and materials for businesses are collectively purchased and transported which greatly reduces the cost at point of sale in Neno.

Loans are assessed based upon credit history and defaulting is always followed by the Club and then SUNESMA if necessary. Repayment targets set to more affluent periods of the year.

Through this system the farmers have greater security resulting from the improved availability of inputs and the provision of credit enables farmers to engage without large expenditure.

This scheme has proved very popular since macadamia growers have suffered less from the poor maize harvests of the past 5 years than their counterparts in Neno. The scheme has had repayments of 90-98% since it started, much higher than other credit schemes in Malawi.
The policy of avoiding handouts has built pride in the association and other organizations are looking at the model developed in Neno to see if it could be applied elsewhere.