By Chilungamo Missi

Blantyre, July 28, Mana: Controller of Agriculture Extension and Technical Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, Alfred Mwenifumbo has urged farmers in Blantyre to embrace farm mechanization as one way of achieving increased agricultural productivity and commercialization.

He said this on Friday in Machinjiri during the launch of Mahindra Tractor Hiring Scheme Ceremony organized by Delta Automobiles, M’bawa Trading, and Blantyre District Agricultural Office.

Mwenifumbno said the five newly launched tractors that have been procured by the Lambat family who are owners of M’bawa Trading, would provide farmers with tractor-hiring services.

“One of the major pillars of Malawi 2063 is agriculture productivity and commercialization and this can be achieved through the use of mechanization.

“The tractors, therefore, are not only going to benefit the Lambat family on their farm, but also offer this service to farmers’ clubs and cooperatives in this whole catchment area to increase their productivity,” he said.

Director for M’bawa Trading, Abdul Lambat said the initiative aims to uplift smallholder farmers saying the land has degraded in the country and tractors would assist in bringing back the degraded land through plowing.

He said that, “Together with the government and Mahindra which is under Delta Automobiles, we have agreed to start this project here but it will be scaled up to other districts.

“So, if we embrace this project, the country will be able to produce enough food which can also be exported to other countries and in turn bringing much-needed forex in the country.”

Delta Automobiles and Equipment Limited General Manager, Goldy Nair expressed his company’s commitment to support farmers in the rural areas with farm mechanization to enable them become food secure and support government in the mega farm’s development.