By Beatrice Bangula

Blantyre, November 8, Mana: Blantyre District Council has encouraged farmers and agriculture experts to change their mindset by adopting modern methods of farming to make the most out of their production.

Blantyre District Council Chairperson, Elsen Dumùka made the remarks on Friday during the opening of 2024 - 2025 Agriculture Fair under the theme: "Market oriented agriculture through innovation and commercialization," held at Mdeka ADMARC ground, Lirangwe EPA in Traditional Authority Chigalu.

Dumuka said government through the Ministry of Agriculture is playing a very big role in making sure that there is food security in the country such that farmers should have more than enough harvest and sell the surplus.

"We need to realize that climate change has become a threat to both farming and development in the country; therefore, we need to change our mindset, let's take farming as a business too because farming is a source of food security, economy and country's development," he said.

Director of Agriculture Services for Blantyre District Council, Edward Katunga said the agriculture fair is very important because it coordinates farmers and the people or organisations who buy their produce.

"During this time, farmers learn different farming methods from each other and also from their service providers," he said.

Katunga added that Blantyre District Council is working very hard in assisting farmers with new farming methods including irrigation technologies.

"You have seen Bakasala Irrigation Scheme stand and what they portrayed on their stand, also Nkawinda Irrigation Scheme which currently has about 600 hectares and it's been developed whereas the water comes from Shire River. 600 hectares is a big size which is enough to serve the whole Mdeka area," he added.

One of the farmers from Chisesele Village in T/A Chigalu, Macdonald Kampira said he has learnt a lot during the agriculture fair including the use of local methods in fighting pests in the field.

"We have learnt the benefits of using such local and cheap methods like the use of Neemu tree leaves and Chikhawo portrayed by other farmers here," he said.