By Tione Andsen

Dowa, June 25, Mana: Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) has admitted that smuggling of goods remains a key challenge in the drive to increase revenue collection in the country.

Head of Corporate Affairs at MRA, Steve Kapoloma made the admission Monday during his presentation as an implementation Agencies for Southern Africa Trade and Connectivity Project (SATCP) during a two-day Media Orientation and Tour at Vintage Hotel in Mponela, Dowa.

He said most imported goods are coming into the country by using uncharted routes as there are many porous routes for use.  

“We are facing a lot of challenges in dealing with the situation especially this time of the years where there are no rains and many small parts are passable and these are proofing to be conducive areas for smuggling,” Kapoloma explained.  

He added MRA has anti-smuggling teams called FAST which patrols the uncharted routes where smuggling is prone.

Kapololma disclosed that the work was very tough on the ground and believe the challenges would be lessened with the coming of Drones that would be procured by SATCP with funding from World Bank which supporting Nacala Corridor.

“We kick started the process of procuring the Drones but we faced some challenges somehow and it was halted. Now, the World Banks has come full throttle at this stage and we hopefully that by the next three months, we should have them in operational,” he narrated.

The Head of Corporate Affairs said MRA was keen to making sure that the staff members were capacitate with proper knowledge to enable them fly the Drones  

Kapoloma revealed that 21 MRA staff members are now able to fly the drones after being certified by Civil Aviation Department.     

“We want to deal with the issue of smuggling in a smarter way. There is huge impact on smuggling because is being played in blank side. The magnitude of the malpractice will be difficult to assess. Through our patrols we have noticed that we have lost or recover about K 3 billion and this could just be tip of the ice bag,” he pointed out.

Kapoloma said the most important thing was that MRA was doing everything possible to deal with issues of smuggling by involving communities because the Authority could not be everywhere.

“We need to make sure that wherever smuggling is taking place where whistle blowers should inform us. We are partnering with chiefs and local leaders to support MRA initiatives to curb smuggling and we believe the coming in of Drones will deal with it completely,” he noted.     

National Public Relation Officer (PRO) for Department of Immigration and Citizen Services, Wellington Chiponde said there are 36 border posts with neighbouring countries.

He said out of the 36 border posts only four are automated namely Kamuzu and Chileka international Airports, Mwanza and Mchinji borders.

“We are intended to automate 16 border posts in the country so that we can do away with manual recording of data. We largely depend on the entry and exit cards to update our data base manually,” Chiponde added.

He said the automated border would help us to check the issue of illegal immigrants and human trafficking. 

MRA and Immigration are part of the Implementation Agencies for SATCP which is being funded by World Bank to the tune of K150 million.

By Memory Khutuliwa

Blantyre, June 25, Mana: Women’s Heart Foundation has organised a summit called Women in Business, with the aim of creating, connecting and conquering ladies through business,

The event will be held at Sunbird Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi on June 30 this year.

Founder of Women in Business Organisation, Faith Ngulume Banda told Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Tuesday that the event has been organised by Women’s Heart Foundation team so that all business ladies should have an opportunity to learn about business from others and be inspired.

“Business ladies will be inspired and besides, we are also doing this to raise funds with which to support the needy, widows and also to give some business capital to women,” Banda said.

Banda said so far preparations are going on well and that they have already paid a deposit for the venue.

“This event will help business ladies to buld up their business as they will learn how to plan, manage and invest and also help those who want to start their business but are failing due to financial challenges,” she said.

She said apart from tackling business issues, their team also supports needy students with fees, noting: “Through this event our sponsors will be receiving awards and ladies will play different games.”

“So far, we have three guest speakers: Esster Ida Chabuka, Pamela Msuka and Rose Kasunda and the host of this event is Ruth Kulaisi and one artist who is Temwa,” she said.

Ida Chabuka, one of the speakers said as an entrepreneur she is so excited about the summit, noting that the platform would not just be for sharing business ideas but also an opportunity for her to explore new business ideas.

“I’m looking forward to interact and sharing what I know which has helped my business grow over the past 16 years. I’m expecting women to ask questions about business and even my personal life because learning never ends even when you are old or very good in what you do,” she said.

She encouraged all women to attend the summit, emphasising that ‘no man is an island.

Chabuka also advised women to consider venturing into entrepreneurship regardless of how small the start-up capital can be.

“You can start business with any amount of capital, don't look down upon yourself and don’t underrate what K10, 000 can do, that is enough capital for a specific business,” she said.

By Solister Mogha

Zomba, June 25, Mana: Participants in the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) have touted the programme for improving their agricultural produce.

According to the participants, through the support, they are able to buy fertilizer and other inputs that are used in their crop fields.

One of the participants in Linjidzi Catchment in Zomba, Chrissy Gefrey said she used the money she received from the programme to buy fertilizer which has helped in increasing her yield.

She said compared to other years in the past, this year she has harvested 20 bags of maize which would take her household through to the next growing season.

Apart from maize, Gefrey said she has cultivated tomatoes and vegetables, which, she was selling to improve her income.

“I have been able to support my five grandchildren with all their education needs. So long as this programme continues, I expect to do more and see my life improved,” she said.

A Youthful beneficiary in the programme, Dennis Kayola said unlike in the past, his yield has tremendously improved.

“By working in the programme, I have been able to buy all what is required in my crop fields and my agricultural produce has increased,” he said.

Kayola appealed to government to continue implementing social protection programmes that strive to enhance people’s livelihoods.

CS-EPWP Desk officer for Zomba, Chimwemwe Chimbadza said it was exciting to see people utilizing proceeds from the programme to improve their livelihood.

She said this affirms the whole purpose of the programme.

“The whole reason of having this programme is to improve economic livelihoods of rural poor. The success stories from beneficiaries is a big encouragement,” Chimbadza added.

The Government of Malawi is implementing the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme, a sub programme under social support for resilient livelihoods project.

The Programme focuses on integrated watershed management covering sub-projects such as land resources management, re-afforestation, natural regeneration and sustainable livelihood.

 At least 18,000 households are participating in the programme in Zomba.

By Tikondane Vega

Blantyre, June 25, Mana: Private Schools Association of Malawi (PRISAM) has hailed the Malawi National Examinations Board (MANEB) for speeding up the disbursement of centre fees, ahead of next month’s Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations.

In its Press Release, PRISAM president, Dr. Ernest Kaonga says at long last MANEB has disbursed centre fees.

Last week, PRISAM complained of the delay, claiming that it puts most of the private schools in a fix considering that public schools are provided with mobile labs while private schools rely on the said money.

“We can now confirm that private schools have received this money which will now be used to buy materials for practical subjects,” said Kaonga.

He however urged the private schools to buy all the necessary materials on time since they are not allowed to do so when examinations are in progress.

“This is the right time for them to get organized since they have been paid the money. There is no room for excuse because MANEB has disbursed the funds,” said Kaonga.

In a statement prior to the disbursement, MANEB executive secretary, Dorothy Nampota assured PRISAM that it was working on settling the issue in the soonest time possible.

By Hastings Yobe

Lilongwe, June 25, Mana: Smallholder farmers are the backbone of the country's agriculture sector and Onion farming has emerged as a lucrative opportunity for them to boost their income and improve their livelihoods.

Despite the challenges they face, these farmers have shown remarkable resilience and adaptability, and their success stories are worth sharing.

According to Ministry of Agriculture, small-scale farmers account for over 80 percent of the country's Onion production, which generates approximately K 12 billion in revenue annually.

This Revenue comes from both domestic sales and exports to neighbouring countries like Zambia, Tanzania, and Mozambique. 

According to research which was done in 2020, Malawi exported over 10,000 metric tonnes of Onions to Zambia alone, earning around K 1.2 billion (US$ 1.6 million) in foreign exchange.

Onion farming offers several benefits to smallholder farmers in the country.

Firstly, it is a low-cost venture that requires minimal inputs, making it an attractive option for farmers with limited resources.

Secondly, Onions are easy to cultivate and require less labour and water compared to other vegetables like tomatoes.

Thirdly, Onions are less susceptible to pests and diseases, reducing the need for pesticides and other chemicals.

Finally, Oions can be stored for longer periods, allowing farmers to sell them when prices are favourable.

A farmer from Lunzu, Blessings Mlelemba, 26 is one of the many success stories in Onion farming.

He expects to earn at least K 4 million from his Onion harvest this year, which he attributes to the simplicity and profitability of onion farming.

“This year I am expecting to get K4 million after selling my onions which I harvested on my half acre land, I think people should now know that farming, especially crops like Onions is really beneficial and can be a real life changer for small holder farmers,” Mlelemba hoped.

“For example, on a half an acre land you can produce 96,000 Onion bulbs and if you are selling 16 Onion bulbs at K1,000 that means you will get K 6 million at the end.

Onion farming is really simple, it takes three weeks to be on nursery and only three months on the main garden. The total production is less than K580,000 which produces the K 6 million we are talking about,” he continued.

A farmer from Zomba, Gavily Maluwa 30, is another beneficiary of Onion farming and uses his skills gained from the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) to maximize his profits, earning up to K 900,000 from his Onion sales.

He said on his one-acre land, a quarter acre produces Onions that produces at least K 400,000 or K500,000 depending on how good the market was that year.

“Sometimes, I may even produce Onion worth K 900,000 but it depends on who is buying the onion, for example if you are selling your Onion in hotels or restaurants that is when you get higher prices,

Besides that, Onion takes longer to rote and can be kept for a longer period of time after harvesting unlike other crops,” Maluwa confirmed.

He added that, “Onion is less costly to grow as compared to the profits one can get after selling it, for example it does not require one to use much pesticides or fertilizers but with just good supervision a farmer can get bumper yields.” 

Maluwa said youths must learn about Onion farming and engage themselves in this enterprise since it was very profitable because it does not require a lot like fertilizer application and was not usually affected by pests.

Although the profits are many with Onion farming, he asked government to assist Onion farmers in accessing cheap Onion seeds.

“Onion seeds are mostly expensive than other seeds on the market and government should assist in training Onion farmers through consultants on how best the farmers can grow their Onion for better produce,” he suggested.

He believes that if government puts more effort in onion farming it can help to deal with forex scarcity in the country. 

“Government should assist farmers to find markets where they can export their produce and get better results,” Maluwa added.

An expert in Horticultural Crop Production at LUANAR Bunda Campus, Dr. Vincent Mwale agrees that Onion farming was advantageous due to its ease of cultivation, low labour and input requirements, and resistance to pests and diseases.

He recommends the Texas Grano and Red Creole varieties, which are well adapted to Malawi's environmental conditions and have a wide market acceptability.

“Onions are advantageous as they are very easy to cultivate and less labour and input intensive than other vegetables like tomatoes for example.

They require less amounts of fertilizers, less water, less labour and are more or less more hardly to get attacks from pests and diseases when grown under optimum conditions,” Mwale clarified.

He said farmers need to think of the environment they want to grow in.

“Onions prefer a cold or low temperature environment and does better in the cool months (April to July), but higher temperatures are required when they begin to form bulbs,” the Expert hinted.

Mwale pointed out that, “Being a bulb, Onion requires sandy soils with high organic matter which can be achieved by incorporating manure. Very heavy clay soils reduce bulb formation process.

“Farmers have to produce high quality seedlings as they determine success rate and they have to choose suitable soil (sandy loam soil as opposed to heavy clay soils) with adequate water facilities if under irrigation.”

According to the Malawi Chitukuko article by Willem, Onions can be grown from seed, but it’s much easier and quicker to grow them from sets (small onions).

Most are heat-treated, meaning they are less likely to bolt (produce flowers), which stops the onions bulking up.

Onion farming offers a promising opportunity for smallholder farmers in the country to improve their livelihoods and contribute to the country's economy.

 With its low-cost requirements, ease of cultivation, and resistance to pests and diseases, onion farming is an attractive option for farmers.

By adopting good agricultural practices and selecting suitable varieties, farmers can optimize their produce and improve their overall farming experience.

As the demand for Onions continues to grow, both locally and internationally, the future of onion farming in the country looks bright.