M’mbelwa District Council has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen agriculture and improve service delivery to farmers across the district.
Speaking on Wednesday during the handover of two motorcycles to the agriculture sector, Mzimba district commissioner Emmanuel Bulukutu said the council remains determined to support agriculture as the backbone of the district’s economy and a key driver of food security and household incomes.
He said the donation of motorcycles will enhance mobility for agricultural extension workers, enabling them to reach farmers, particularly those in hard-to-reach areas.
Said Bulukutu: “Limited transport has for years hampered effective extension service delivery, affecting the timely dissemination of farming knowledge and technologies.
“With support from the European Union-funded
Ulimi Ndi Chilengedwe [Uchi] project, the council has supported the agriculture sector with two motorcycles valued at K10.5 million each to strengthen the implementation of the project.”
He said the Uchi project seeks to improve food security amid climate change challenges.
On his part, Mzimba district principal agricultural officer Julius Banda welcomed the support, describing it as timely and critical in addressing operational challenges faced by frontline extension workers.
“The support has come in the middle of the rainy season when mobility is a crucial concern in service delivery. Therefore, the extension workers will reach remote areas with extension services,” he said.
The council allocated the motorbikes to extension workers in Champhira Extension Planning Area where most areas are hard-to-reach.
A farmer Tiyanjane Soko said he expected a direct impact on increasing production and food security since famers will be easily reached with knowledge in good agricultural practices and other important information.
“Modern farming methods will boost crop production and we can only learn about them from extension workers,” he said.
