By Moses Nyirenda

Lilongwe, February 29, Mana: Civil Society Agriculture Network (CISANET) has commended the State of Nation Address (SONA) and the proposed 2024/2025 national budget saying the two highlight government’s commitment towards promotion of the agriculture sector in the country.

Speaking during a press briefing in Lilongwe on Wednesday CISANET Board Chairperson, Herbert Chagona, said both the SONA and the national budget hint on promotion of the country’s agriculture sector.

CISANET organized the press briefing to give its response to the SONA and national budget.

“We have looked at both statements and we conclude that the budget is one of a kind that demonstrates government’s commitment to promoting agriculture, food security and climate resilience in the country.

“The statements also recognize that the sector is one of the engines for economic growth and poverty reduction,” Chagona said.

He said CISANET is glad to see that most of the inputs made by stakeholders in the agriculture sector have been included in the budget.

He said the allocation of K497.75 billion in the national budget, which translates 8.3 percent of the total budget, towards the fulfillment of the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods in which Heads of State under African Union resolve to, among other things, allocate 10 percent of public expenditure to agriculture is a positive development.

He, however, said government could have increased the budget for agriculture in order to address the challenges affecting the sector.

“For our country to realize the expected development in the sector, 10 percent would have been ideal. Government should make deliberate efforts to increase the allocation to at least 15 percent of the total budget.

“This would help in ending hunger, halving poverty and enhancing resilience to climate vulnerability among other expected outcomes in the sector,” he said.

Chagona emphasized on need for government to come up with strategies that would help improve food and nutrition security which includes Affordable Inputs Program (AIP) reforms as well as creation of mega farms and market linkages, among other things.

CISANET National Director, Gift Numeri, encouraged government to promote the adoption of modern and appropriate technologies to keep up the global production levels and standards by increasing resources towards improving extension services in the country.