Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) has urged players in the agriculture sector to focus on value addition to accelerate economic transformation.
The call comes ahead of the 15th National Agriculture Fair to be held in Blantyre from August 30 to September 2 2018.
In an interview on Friday MCCCI spokesperson Millie Kasunda said all is set for the fair, which will accord various players in the agriculture sector to network, share new ideas and strike business deals.
“MCCCI believes that agri-business has the potential to drive economic wealth creation through production of agricultural products and services that add value.
“This can be achieved through a shift from primary production to modern integrated agri-business processes and industrialisation. This will thus provide transformative opportunities for smallholder farmers as well as agricultural entities to unlock wealth through high-value product trading and exchange to both local and regional international markets,” she said.
Perisha Agro Processing and Packing Enterprise managing director Perisha Gondwe commended MCCCI for organising agriculture fairs every year, saying they are a good platform to help players in the sector to network.
“I have attended various fairs and agriculture indabas and every time you gain new knowledge.
“If it is not striking business deals, it is about extending the network of the enterprises you are dealing with,” she said.
The fair will be held under the theme Access to Finance, Value Addition and Markets: Key to Agri-based Industrialisation. n
