By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, March 30, Mana: Ministry of Agriculture has urged farmers in Kasungu to embrace diversification and value addition to their farm produce, stressing it is a key driver of agricultural commercialization.

Deputy Director of Agriculture responsible for field crops, Osborne Tsoka, made the remarks on Friday during an Agriculture Field Day at Malama Village in Mtunthama Extension Planning Area (EPA) under Traditional Authority Chinyama in the district.

Tsoka said as the country grapples with climatic shocks, diversification is crucial in ensuring food security.

He said agriculture field days provide a learning and marketing platform for farmers, where different players in the sector showcase new technologies.

“The Ministry of Agriculture is encouraging farmers to embrace diversification, processing, and irrigation to enhance food security. This is in response to climate change challenges that affect our farmers,” he said.

He added that the government through the Ministry of Agriculture is collaborating with various stakeholders to enhance value addition in farm produce in order to boost exports.

"As we encourage farmers to add value to their farm produce, we are also engaging with the Malawi Bureau of Standards for product certification so that we should be able to export our goods and generate forex," he said.

During the field tour, Tsoka also visited Mlatho Milk Bulking Group and K2 Tigwiranemanja AIDS Support Organization, where he appreciated milk cattle management and a milk processing plant.

Kasungu Agriculture Development Division Programmes Manager, Yusuf Shaibu, acknowledged that climate change is one of the major challenges affecting farmers in the district.

He encouraged farmers to adapt modern and sustainable ways of farming as a way of countering impacts of climate change.

"Climate change is heavily impacting our farmers. For instance, this year we experienced dry spells in some areas.

“That is why we are encouraging farmers to embrace diversification and modern farming practices," Shaibu said.

Despite the challenges, Shaibu said the division is impressed with farmers' adaptation rate to sustainable and modern farming methods to counter climate-related risks and uncertainties.

Member of Parliament for Kasungu East Constituency, Madalitso Kazombo, said empowering small-scale farmers is crucial for ensuring food security and enhancing agricultural commercialization.

He urged the government to continue investing in the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) to support more youths in the agriculture sector.

On his part, Chairperson of the District Agriculture Extension Coordinating Committee, Peter Minjale said the district has made significant strides in promoting diversification as witnessed by increased production of other farm produce besides maize.

The field day was organized by Kasungu District Council under the theme "Promoting Resilient Food Systems for Inclusive Agricultural Commercialization."