Conference calls for agri-food systems boost
The 2024 Malawi Agricultural Productivity and Commercialisation Conference (Mapcc) opened on Wednesday with calls for increased cooperation and accountability among different sectors in the value chain.
This year’s conference, held under the theme ‘Transforming Agri-food Systems to Generate Wealth for All’ at the Bingu International Convention Centre, brought together officials and representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, the donor community and the public sector.
Speaking at the conference, Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale urged stakeholders in the key agri-food system value-chain to collaborate and consolidate their efforts to leverage the inputs and insights at the conference to achieve the aspirations of the Malawi 2063 (MW2063), the country’s main growth and development blueprint.
“Collaboration will be important going forward, because improving the agri-food system will not depend on one single person or institution. From the Ministry’s side, we will work diligently to create a policy framework that will allow all relevant stakeholders to work effectively,” he said.
Agreeing with Kawale, National Planning Commission (NPC) director general Thomas Munthali urged the stakeholders to consolidate conferences and projects to ensure that there is a seamless flow of ideas and resources across the projects.
Munthali, whose organisation is a key implementing partner of the MW2063, further said it was important for key stakeholders in the agri-food system value-chain to hold each other accountable in terms of implementing the recommendations made at the conferences.
The NPC head pointed to the establishment of the mega farms support unit and the enhanced investment in resilient agri-food systems as some of the key initiatives implemented in response to recommendations made at last year’s conference.
Figures from the National Statistical Office (NSO) show that the inflation rate in July stood at 33.7 percent, with food inflation registered at a staggering 41.9 percent and non-food inflation at 22.4 percent.
On his part, Mwapata Institute advisory board chairperson Jacob Nyirong said that increased coordination between the different stakeholders, particularly in developing policy systems and collaboration in financing and advisory systems, in the agri-food systems value-chain will ease the graduation from food insecurity.
Since its launch, the Mapcc has influenced several policies and strategic initiatives, including developing mega and anchor farms initiatives, promoting investment for agricultural diversification and commercialisation, and identifying key value chains for prioritisation.
