Cooperatives key to economic development—CisaNet
Civil Society Agriculture Network (CisaNet) says cooperatives have the potential to spur economic development among farmers.
Speaking at the weekend during a Cooperatives Registration and Malawi Bureau of Standards meeting held at Mponela in Dowa Cisanet programmes manager Lovemore Mtsitsi said time was ripe for farmers to register their cooperatives.
“Cooperatives help farmers bring their efforts together and make products which can fetch good prices on the market,” he said.
Mtsitsi observed that many companies prefer buying goods in bulk; hence, the need for farmers to produce and sell in large quantities.
“This would enable farmers make profits and grow economically,” he said.
Mtsitsi then urged farmers to join cooperatives, saying, “they are kiosks for sharing knowledge.”
Speaking in a separate interview, assistant registrar of cooperatives in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism Henry Mandere said the risk of being cheated by buyers is minimised when farmers sell products as a cooperative.
One of the participants at the training, Masulani Jeke from Takondwa Farmers Club commended Cisanet for organising the workshop.
Participants to the training were drawn from Mchinji and Lilongwe with financial support from Oxfam. n
