By Maston Kaiya

Ntcheu, June 7, Mana: National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) has encouraged Youth groups in Ntcheu to get loans and venture into businesses.

NEEF Credit Analysis Manager Whyghtone Mweta made the remarks on Friday during a stakeholder meeting with the youth from Ntcheu district.

Mweta highlighted that youth in the district are lagging in terms of how much they have received from NEEF.

"Being custodians of Malawi 2063, we needed to encourage them to get the loans and also advise them that when they get the loans they must pay back so that other youths should also benefit from NEEF," said Mweta.

Youth Economic Empowerment Scheme Chairperson for Ntcheu district Fred Kawalewale Gerson said eight groups from eight constituencies are ready to get the loans and venture into various businesses specifically irrigation farming.

He assured stakeholders that if given the loans, the groups are committed to pay back within the specific given period.

"Ntcheu being an agro-based economy, most of the youths are doing farming as a business and let me assure stakeholders that strategies are in place to ensure that all the selected groups should pay back the loans," said Gerson.

144 groups are targeted in Ntcheu district.