Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale has advised farmers, researchers and entrepreneurs to take agriculture as a business-driven and technologically-enabled sector rather than just a subsistence activity.
The minister said this at Chichiri Trade Fair Grounds in Blantyre yesterday when he opened the 21st National Agriculture Fair being held under the theme ‘Toward commercialisation and economic transformation through smart and sustainable agricultural systems’.
The fair is organised by the Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI).
Kawale said the Malawi Government is committed to transforming the agriculture sector from subsistence-based to a commercial and competitive industry. Agriculture contributes about 25 percent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
He encouraged farmers and agribusiness players to seize the opportunities presented by the fair to build networks, learn new technologies and explore markets for their products.
Said Kawale: “This fair is not just an exhibition. It is a marketplace of ideas, innovations and opportunities.
“We want to ensure that our farmers move from a subsistence farming mindset to commercial agriculture by adopting new technologies that will increase their incomes and improve food security.”
MCCCI president Wisely Phiri, speaking in an interview, rated the event a success, saying that with the growing challenges of climate change, smart agriculture is the way forward.
“Many of the participants that are here are showcasing products that are solution-based, which is what is needed for agriculture to move forward,” he said.
Phiri also highlighted opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area, a market of 1.3 billion people with a combined GDP of $3.4 trillion, but stressed the need to perfect products and value chains before competing internationally.
“People will not just buy from us because we are poor. We have to produce something that adds value,” he said, observing that delayed participation allows Malawi to strengthen product quality and competitiveness.
Speaking on the sidelines of the fair, Emmanuel Mangulenje of Abwenzi Cooperative from Malembo in Mangochi said the fair will showcase modern agricultural technologies.
“We have brought modern fish farming technology using HDP pipes, which is environmentally friendly and stocks a lot of fish,” he said.
Mangulenje hailed the fair for its potential to boost the country’s economy and promote nutrition locally, stating that agricultural prosperity could help improve foreign exchange through exports.
The fair serves as a vital platform for promoting agricultural commercialisation and fostering collaboration between farmers, agribusinesses, policymakers and other stakeholders in the sector.
This year’s fair, which is running from August 28 to 30, has attracted 115 exhibitors from across the country, showcasing a wide range of agricultural products and services from crops, livestock and agro-processing innovations to farm machinery, irrigation systems and digital farming solutions. Last year, the fair attracted 170 exhibitors.
