Farmers advised to sell produce in associations

Farmers in Ntchisi have been advised to sell their produce through associations if they are to make profits.

The appeal was made on Wednesday at Shant Community Hall in the district during the Innovative Productivity Centre (IPC) Association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) organised by National Smallholder Farmers Association of Malawi (Nasfam).

Nasfam field officer for Chikwatula associations, Naomi Manthalu, said the AGM was aimed at presenting the 2015/2016 annual activity performance report, annual financial report, annual work plan and annual work plan budget to the associations and farmers it is working with in the district.

She expressed satisfaction with how selling farm produce through associations has transformed farmers’ lives in the district.

Said Manthalu: “Our core objective is to help local farmers, who could not take their produce to different markets due to transportation problems, so that we buy their products, hence making a lot of profits after sales.’’

Chikwatula Association chairperson, Piyasoni Chiutsi, said selling farm produce through associations has transformed his life.

“Selling farm produce through associations has helped me change from subsistence farming to commercial farming.

“The AGM is important because it allows farmers to know how their associations have worked and the importance of selling farm produce through associations,’’ said Chiutsi. n