From May 12, Malawi will host the 7th Africa-wide Agricultural Extension Week (Aaew) 2025, a continental conference that targets strengthening extension services to promote productivity in the sector.
To be hosted by the government in collaboration with the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (Afaas) and the Malawi Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (MaFaas), the event will attract experts from the continent to discuss the role of extension services on commercialisation.
In a joint statement, the three institutions described the theme ‘Rebranding Extension for Enhanced Public/Private Sector Driven Commercialisation, Industrialisation, and Inclusive Food Systems’ as being in line with the continent’s objective to improve productivity in the agricultural sector.
Experts include policymakers, agricultural extension professionals, researchers and academics, private sector representatives, development partners and donors, civil society organisations, farmers and youth groups to consider re-thinking and re-shaping Agriculture Extension Advisory Services for inclusive and resilient agri-food systems in Africa.
According to Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale, the event will benefit Malawi as it needs policies and quality extension services to achieve agricultural commercialisation and industrialisation, a key enabler of Malawi 2063.
“We cannot attain our goal of the ‘Africa we want’ and the agenda 2063, if agriculture extension is still looked at as the last option to support Africa’s agriculture development initiatives.
“It is no longer a study but a fact that agriculture remains a potent tool to fight unemployment, hunger and poverty. And for Africa to attain its set goals and drive our people out of hunger, we cannot overlook the role of extension anymore. Malawi will lead in agriculture extension transition in the region and on the continent,” said Kawale.
In an interview, one of MaFaas directors Rex Chapota described the event as a learning opportunity for Malawi as stakeholders from various countries within the region will showcase their innovations aimed at promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Earlier, commenting on Malawi’s extension services status, Michigan State University professor emeritus of agricultural, food and resource economics Thom Jayne said authorities need to integrate local knowledge and create innovations that can power the local agricultural sector.
Jayne urged local authorities to allocate more money to agricultural research, development and extension, saying prior research in Sub-Saharan Africa shows that increased expenditures usually translate to increased productivity and higher yields.
National Planning Commission director of knowledge and learning Joseph Nagoli said authorities and key players in the agriculture sector should use local initiatives such as the National Research Agenda launched in 2023 to do research that can produce usable information.
Billed as the platform for facilitation of networking, collaboration and partnerships among stakeholders across the continental agriculture value chain, this is the first time for Malawi to host the event.
