Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development controller of agricultural services for institutions Jerome Nkhoma has stressed the importance of research in the agriculture sector towards achieving food security.
He said this at Vibangalala in Traditional Authority (T/A) Mzukuzuku in Mzimba District on Saturday during a field day organised under Sustainable Agriculture Productivity Programme (Sapp II).
Nkhoma said research helps to bring technologies that assist farmers to respond to climate change conditions.
He said: “Firstly, research innovations are essential because they provide solutions to climate change conditions and provide recommendations on what farmers should grow or apply at
a particular time to improve yield and advert disasters.
“Secondly, research also helps farmers to know about market demands, regional and international buyers.”
Nkhoma said field days help in showcasing different farming technologies and innovations and how farmers can transition and boost their skills amid
climate change shocks.
The ministry’s Department of Research Services acting deputy director for technology development Suzen Malunga said they will continue to conduct research and relay the information to farmers to transform the agriculture sector.
Sapp II national programme coordinator Rex Baluwa said they will work with relevant stakeholders to drive agriculture commercialisation in the country.
He said they will soon call for grant proposals for farmers under cooperatives to apply and benefit from the programme.
Said Malunga: “We want to enhance agricultural production and farmers’ access to markets.
“We, therefore, urge farmers to form groups and benefit from the programme through different grants focusing on production, agro-processing and value-addition.”
A farmer, Thokozire Jere in Vibangalala, hailed the technologies they are learning, saying they will help them to mitigate the impact of climate change and improve crop yield.
Sapp phase II is running in Dowa, Balaka, Lilongwe and Mzimba districts with financial support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Government of Malawi
