Farmers in Chitipa, Karonga and Rumphi districts have commended Transforming Agriculture through Diversification and Entreprenuership (Trade) programme for improving their livelihoods.
Speaking on Friday during a media tour to appreciate the programme’s progress at Luhono Beef Cooperative in Bolero Extension Planning Area (EPA) in Rumphi District, the farmers said the programme helped them embrace commercialisation.
The cooperative’s vice-chairperson Esau Munthali said Trade programme motivated them to rear cattle for beef.
He said: “With guidance from Trade programme field officers, we constructed a stall-feeding kraal and bought three underweight bulls at K800 000 each.
“We used the skills we acquired to produce animal feed to fatten the bulls in three months. Each bull was later sold at an average price of K1.8 million.”
Mpata corporative committee member Teresa Kachali said through Trade programme in partnership with Small Producers Development and Transporters Association (Sprodeta) they embraced new farming practices, including the use of modern cattle houses as well as production of feed.
“We partnered Twambilire Abattoir under Twambilire Corporative as our off-taker,” she said.
Trade programme communication specialist Oscar Ulili said the programme is working in collaboration with Sprodeta and The Challenge Malawi to implement the project.
He said: “We are excited to learn about the successes. Luhono Corporative is an example as the group has purchased another set of three bulls for fattening, targeting sales within the next 90 days.
“Additionally, they have invested in two breeding cows to secure long-term production.”
Ulili also said they are empowering community animal health workers with skills to continue with the interventions.
Trade programme is hosted by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development with support from International Fund for Agricultural Development and Opec Fund for International Development.
