Centre for Agriculture Transformation (CAT) has moved to support Malawi’s agricultural diversification initiative with training for market-led agriculture production.
On Thursday the organisation graduated 80 extension agents trained in promoting access to agricultural technologies, finance and market, particularly in the soya bean, groundnut and bananas value chains.
In an interview on the sidelines of the graduation ceremony, CAT director of market systems Cuthbert Lunduka said the training’s focus on value chains will enhance productivity and efficiency.
He said the ultimate goal is to improve productivity.
Said Lunduka: “For instance, if they use drought-resistant crops, we trained them on husbandry practices that will guarantee higher yields that they can sell in regional and international markets.”
The trained field officers are, in turn, expected to train peer farmers and farmer groups in Lilongwe, Mchinji, Kasungu, Dowa, and Ntchisi.
Ministry of Agriculture deputy director of extension Kenneth Chaula said the training will complement government efforts to train smallholder farmers in alternative value chains.
He observed that the training emphasised that farmers should produce for the market, use market intelligence and understand what buyers want on the market.
The remarks follow studies from the Mwapata Institute, International Food Policy Research Institute, the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (Bfap) and the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (Agra) noted that maize, the country’s main staple crop is one of the least performing value chains.
Maize ranked 16th out of 17 value chains, below groundnuts which was ranked 10, soya beans at 4, bananas at 3, all ranked higher than maize in their value chain analysis conducted last year but production in those value chains remains sporadic.
Local farmers usually grow these crops when they are in high demand only to drop them when demand falls, a development CAT and the Ministry of Agriculture say limits productivity and sustainability in the long-term.
Esinta Ketulo, an extension agent from Nsitu EPA in Mchinji, said the training has provided them with the knowledge to enhance productivity in alternative value chains and, by extension, improve their livelihoods.
The three-day trainer-of-trainers workshop ran from November 19 to 21 in Mponela. Dowa. About 80 extension agents have graduated from the project and are expected to bridge the gap in the provision of extension services, locally.
