Malawian officials have urged stronger youth participation in agriculture, observing that the country’s future food security and development depends on empowering young innovators to drive the transformation.
Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the Africa Food Systems Forum in Senegal last week Wednesday, Ministry of Agriculture Principal Secretary for Irrigation Geoffrey Mamba said the Dakar gathering, which drew 6 000 participants from governments, researchers, development partners and youth leaders from across the continent, provided a critical platform for sharing solutions to Africa’s food challenges.
“For us as Malawi, we know we have the Malawi 2063 vision and it is our intention that we use all the tools available to achieve it,” he said. “What is key is that we really have to implement these plans, not just design them.”
sidelines of the conference. | Nation
Mamba noted that despite policy frameworks, Malawi continues to struggle with hunger. Last year, 5.7 million Malawians did not have access to food, up from 2.3 million the previous year. Climate shocks, pests and constrained donor funding have worsened the situation.
“These discussions on financing, climate resilience, and partnerships are vital,” he said. “Our development partners are dragging their feet in some areas, so every nation has a duty to fend for itself and manage resources better.”
Mamba pointed to new initiatives, including large-scale irrigation projects and mega farms, as steps toward food self-sufficiency. But he stressed that Malawi must also improve soil health, modernise cultivation methods, and coordinate across ministries and sectors to unlock growth.
The call for youth involvement was echoed National Planning Commission research manager Andrew Jamali who emphasised that Malawi’s long-term vision is youth-centric.
“The operationalisation of Malawi 2063 is in the hands of young people,” he said. “They are aggressive with new technologies — from soil testing to irrigation innovations. But beyond rhetoric, youth involvement has to be practical.”
Both officials stressed that forums like the one in Dakar are crucial for Malawi to learn from peers, forge partnerships, and showcase youth-led innovations already underway at home.
