Chakwera gets backing on crop inspection

Malawi Agricultural Policy Advancement and Transformation Agenda (Mwapata) Institute and an agriculture economist have backed President Lazarus Chakwera’s crop inspection tours, saying they offer an opportunity to have first-hand impressions on crop output.

In an interview yesterday as the President started his tour in Ntcheu District, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) agriculture economist Ken Machila observed that the exercise has a multiplier effect and must be encouraged.

He said: “This is likely to create healthy competition among workers because everyone would want to be on the right side in case the President decides to inspect their area. This is what we witnessed during Kamuzu Banda’s time.

“Without this high-level inspection, there is some laxity to do what is right. It is also a motivation to farmers to have the President talk to them and appreciate their situation.

“So, let us not read too much into the cost the President needs to get down to the people and get firsthand information.”

Machila said such activities should be part of the agriculture calendar and budgeted for.

In a separate interview, Mwapata Institute executive director William Chadza said the crop inspection is an opportunity to see things practically on the ground and inform policy.

He said looking at the huge investment that goes into agriculture, such tours allow the President not only to appreciate the impact of the investment, but also see where they need to invest more.

Chakwera embarked on the crop inspection tour targeting 11 districts, three each in the Southern and Central regions and five in the Northern Region.

But the President’s gesture, reminiscent of the tradition set by founding president Hastings Kamuzu Banda and briefly revived by former president Bingu wa Mutharika, attracted some criticism, especially on social media platforms. Some of the critics argued that the resources could have been used to address other challenges rocking the country.

But in a written response yesterday, presidential press secretary Anthony Kasunda said the tours are important as they allow the President to “see for himself the situation on the ground” and also “hear from farmers themselves”.

He said: “It is also an opportunity to encourage farmers to start following modern farming models.”

The President has so far been to Thyolo, Zomba and Mangochi in the Southern Region as well as Ntcheu in the Central Region. He is also due to visit Dedza and Nkhotakota in the Central Region, according to Ministry of Agriculture spokesperson Gracian Lungu.

He said the President will tour five of the six districts in the Northern Region with the island district of Likoma the exception.