Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and DanChurchAid (DCA) have handed over value addition and food processing machines to smallholder farmers in Traditional Authority (T/A) Mpherembe in Mzimba District.
Among others, the five farmer groups received peanut butter makers, maize shellers, pellet feed making machines, groundnut millers, egg incubators and oil processing equipment valued at K118 million.
Speaking on Saturday during the handover at Mpherembe, NCA/DCA head of programmes Paul Mmanjamwada said the machines will enable farmers add value to their farm produce.
He said: “We want our farmers to transition from subsistence to commercialised farming to become economically independent.
“With these machines, they can add value to their farm produce, access market and increase income generation activities.”
Mmanjamwada re-affirmed commitment to continue empowering small-scale farmers through technical training and financial assistance.
Mzimba North director of agriculture services Beatrice Mbakaya hailed the initiative.
She said: “The machines are a game-changer and this aligns with the country’s long-term development plan, Malawi 2063 which prioritises agricultural productivity and commercialisation.
“We urge farmers to be in groups to access support.”
Kanthete cooperative chairperson Bonnex Jere, whose group received a cooking oil processing machine, welcomed the support.
“The equipment allows us to process our sunflower produce into cooking oil for sale,” he said.
The Sustainable Food Systems for Rural Agriculture Transformation and Resilience (Transform) programme is running in Mzimba, Rumphi, Dowa, Mchinji and Kasungu districts with financial support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy.
A farmer demonstrates how a cooking oil machine works. | Elton Mhango
