By Abel Ikiloni

Rome, August 20, Mana: President Dr Lazarus Chakwera says his government has confidence to turn Malawi into an inclusively worth, self-reliant nation which is well industrialized and an upper middle income economy.

He emphasized on the Agriculture, Tourism and Mining (ATM) strategy as a strategy that can accord the country to move into mechanization and commercialization.

“We need to put emphasis on the ATM strategy so that we move from subsistence farming to commercialization.

“Smallholder farmers can be in groups and cooperatives and be empowered so that we can have more products and then add value to such products. We have industries across the country for the products,” he said.

He said it has been tough for Malawi with the effects of climate change hence the need for deliberate efforts on irrigation.

According to Chakwera, all the irrigation schemes that were no longer functional have been resuscitated and new ones have built and with the help of the World Bank Malawi expects to have one of the largest irrigation schemes in Southern Africa.

Chakwera assured the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) that he will make sure that agriculture becomes a big business in Malawi by utilizing water from Lake Malawi for irrigation and create more mega farms to address El Niño which brought hunger in Malawi.

About 5.7 million people this year have affected by hunger.

FAO Director General, QU Dongyu, thanked President Chakwera for his commitment to addressing issues of climate change thereby averting hunger.

Dongyu said they are committed to supporting Malawi in irrigation.