By Gift Chiponde
Lilongwe, April 17, Mana: Minister of Agriculture, Sam Kawale has stated that the Ministry, through its Mega Farm Support Unit, would continue to supporting farmers in the country as they work towards achieving the Malawi 2063, through increasing productivity and mechanisation to create jobs and generate forex.
He made the remarks on Tuesday after visited a 200-hectare farm belonging to Lefulosi Chigamula one of the beneficiaries of the Mega Farm Support Unit initiative which aims to support mega farmers in the country.
Kawale explained that the Ministry has been helping 197 commercial farmers across the country with farm inputs such as seeds and fertilizer to ensure maximum productivity and encourage the adoption of mechanisation among mega farmers.
The Minister mentioned that in addition to financial support, the Ministry has connected the farmers with off-takers such as the National Food Reserve Agency (NRFA), Paramount Holdings, and Pyxus Limited Export Trading Group (ETG) and National Smallholders Association of Malawi (NASFAM) has committed to purchasing the farmers' produce.
He disclosed that the government would provide Mega farmers with tractors and combined harvesters and assist subsistence farmers in becoming commercial farmers.
Kawale reassured farmers who would not be included in this year's Affordable Input Programme (AIP) that they would be accommodated in the K 650-billion Agriculture Commercialization (AGCOM) project and the Mega Farm Support Unit and National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) initiatives.
Controller of Agriculture Extension and Technical Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Alfred Mwenifumbo said through the initiatives the unit has supported 197 maize farmers with a total of 10,000 hectares and they are expecting to harvest 35,000 metric tonnes.
A beneficiary, Lefunosi Chigamula commended the Ministry of Agriculture for the support towards mega farmers and he has urged farmers to take the initiatives seriously if they are to benefit.
He revealed that despite facing numerous challenges due erratic rain he would manage to harvest bumper yield this year.
