By Monica Tambala
Lilongwe, March 12, Mana: Minister of Energy, Ibrahim Matola, has underscored the need to broaden the scope of sources of energy to create more affordable and sustainable opportunities within the local set up in order to improve the agricultural sector in Malawi.
He said more sustainable and affordable sources of energy would contribute positively to not only the development of irrigation but also livestock production and agro-processing among others.
Speaking at the opening of the Agri-energy Delivery Laboratory at Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe on Tuesday, Matola said government is focused on agro-led industrialisation as it has the greatest scope for sectors that can drive inclusive economic growth and economic transformation.
“Today we are here unlocking issues of access to electricity; not only being connected to the grid but also using the God given natural resources such as solar to make this country go further in value addition.
“As President Chakwera has chosen three sectors in his administration, mainly Agriculture, Tourism and Mining (ATM) to drive economic transformation and all these require energy as their enabler,” he said.
Matola added that government’s removal of some taxes on solar equipment is a right step in ensuring easy access to electricity and affordability of energy for everyone.
Head of the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU), Dr Janet Banda, said agro-industrialisation, which is the core driver of President Chakwera’s transformation agenda of job creation, wealth creation and food security remains a challenge due to high energy costs, limited grid network and power generation.
“Although strides have been made to curb the challenges like introduction of the special agriculture tariff to enhance access to affordable energy, there are still many users who are not yet connected to the power grid.
“Hence solar energy has become a very crucial source of power in the agro sector. However, there are several challenges associated with solar energy which needs to be thoroughly dissected and analysed,” she said.
She added that there are several solar powered agro-processing cooperatives across the country who are facing challenges of affordability, authenticity and sustainability of solar equipment which the agri-energy delivery lab is meant to find lasting solutions to.
One of the farmers from Mwalamba Cooperative in Mangochi, Falesi Dinesi, said they face challenges in accessing solar power hence the need for a transformer in their area so that they can boost sales in their respective businesses.
The Agri-energy Delivery Lab has been organised by PDU with financial support from Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP).
