By Jones Gadama
The Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has launched a K6.3 billion project aimed at improving the soya bean and groundnut value chains in Malawi.
The four-year project, known as the Malawi Agricultural Cluster Initiative (MACI), is funded by the Norwegian government and will be piloted in Lilongwe and Kasungu districts.
According to AGRA Country Director Eluphy Banda Nyirenda, the project is designed to address the challenges faced by farmers in the soya bean and groundnut value chains, including low productivity and market challenges.
Nyirenda noted that the current productivity of soya beans and groundnuts in Malawi is below 0.8 metric tonnes per hectare, which is significantly lower than countries like Egypt and Tanzania, which have achieved productivity levels of up to 2 metric tonnes per hectare.
The project aims to promote coordination among actors in the value chains to address the challenges faced by farmers.
Nyirenda emphasized that increasing the yield of soya beans and groundnuts has the potential to boost the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
“Our interest is to ensure that we go up to probably 2 metric tonnes per hectare just like other countries,” she said.
The Ministry of Agriculture has welcomed the project and pledged to provide necessary support for its effective implementation.
Deputy Director of Agriculture Extension Services Kenneth Chaula hailed AGRA for coming up with the project and committed to providing support to ensure that farmers benefit from the two value chains.
Chaula highlighted some of the challenges that farmers face in the production of soya beans and groundnuts, including limited access to quality seeds, poor agronomic practices, and post-harvest losses.
He also noted that the lack of structured markets for the two commodities is a major challenge.
The MACI project will focus on addressing these challenges and improving the overall productivity and profitability of soya beans and groundnuts in Malawi.
With the support of the Norwegian government and the Ministry of Agriculture, AGRA is confident that the project will have a significant impact on the lives of farmers and the country’s economy.
The project is expected to benefit farmers in Lilongwe and Kasungu districts, where it will be piloted, and potentially be scaled up to other districts if successful.
The launch of the project marks an important step towards improving the soya bean and groundnut value chains in Malawi and increasing the income of farmers.
AGRA’s commitment to improving the lives of farmers and promoting agricultural development in Africa is evident in the launch of the MACI project.
The project is expected to make a significant contribution to the country’s agricultural sector and economy, and its success will be closely monitored.
