By Majona Mnjuzi

Mchinji, May 8, Mana: Research findings presented by Churches Action in Relief and Development (CARD) in partnership with Christian Aid and Lilongwe University of Agricultural (LUANAR) unveiled that poor law enforcement nurtures vendors and other unscrupulous individuals to rob from farmers,

Speaking during a  research presentation at Mchinji District Executive Committee (DEC) meeting, Director of Centre for Agricultural Research and Development (CARD) from LUANAR, Innocent Pangapanga Phiri, stressed that lack of capacity of the existing local and central government structures provide room for vendors to offer unaccepted price of farm produce.  

“Vendors are buying agricultural commodities at lower price. Notable example is maize, Government set K650 as starting price but vendors are buying at K410 for maize which is exploitation of the farmers. With such prices, farmers cannot graduate from poverty,” Phiri said.

Mchinji District Principal Nutrition and HIV/Aids Officer (PNHAO), Davie Panyani, hailed the research findings as a whistle blower for relevant stakeholders to develop policies that will deter such vendors’ tendency.

“The research findings have been presented on time, and as Mchinji district council we will incorporate these findings in our District Development Plan (DDP) to ensure swift action has been taken. Currently, we are intensifying climate smart agriculture as the first pillar of Malawi Vision 2063, and ensure that people are graduating from poverty line,” said Panyani. 

LUANAR in partnership with Christian Aid and CARD conducted a development study aimed at “rethinking poverty” at Tradition Authority (T/A) Mavwere in Mchinji district.

Similar study is also expected to be done in Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo.