Farmers to benefit from K3bn project
At least 2 750 farmers from Kasungu and Mzimba districts are earmarked to benefit from a K3 billion Empowering Women and Youth in Agriculture in Malawi Project to be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture.
The project, which is being supported by the Flanders Government with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme, is designed to increase the proportion of youths and women who contribute to the production and commercialisation of important and developing high-value crops.
Briefing stakeholders in Kasungu on Monday, Ministry of Agriculture National Agriculture Investment Plan coordinator Eric Haraman said the project will promote advanced technologies, capital finance access and high quality extension and advisory services to improve agricultural productivity and enhance key value chains.
He said: “The project will facilitate creation of an enabling environment for market access and linkage by processing and value addition, aggregating private sector engagement and forming primary secondary cooperatives.
“It will also increase agricultural productivity through advanced technologies and advisory services and facilitate access and linkages through value addition and cooperatives.”
Kasungu District Council chief agriculture officer Chikumbutso Liwonde said the project is a game-changer for women and youths who he said are sidelined in agricultural activities.
He said: “It’s a welcome development as it is addressing critical issues affecting women and youths. We have had instances where farmers are able to produce, but after that, there are no steady markets.
“So this project will help address that gap where the beneficiaries in cooperatives and networks will be linked to off-takers to sell their produce.”
The project, which will run for 28 months, will also build climate resilience and restore critical ecosystems supporting agricultural production through agroforestry and forestry regeneration.
