President Peter Mutharika says commercialization of agriculture is one of way eradicating perennial hunger which Malawi has been facing for a long time.
He said for this reason, his government will soon start distributing tractors to farmers in a bid to gradually do away with the hand-held hoe.
Prof Mutharika was speaking at Kamuzu Palace during an exclusive interview with reporters from Britain’s Guardian Newspaper.
He said the decision to phase away the hand-held hoe was made during the African Union-AU summit which was held in South Africa last month.
“At the just-ended AU summit we agreed that for agriculture to go commercial, we need to intensify the use of tractors which should gradually replace the hand-held hoe,” he said.
The President said India has since pledged to assist Malawi with the first batch of tractors which will be distributed to farmers who are in cooperatives.
“The first consignment which is expected to be delivered to the Malawi government this week, will be given to farmers who are in cooperatives, on rental basis,” he added.
He said through the use of farming methods and technologies, Malawi will eventually be able to be food-sufficient throughout the year.
The first consignment of tractors is expected to be delivered on Tuesday, August, 18th at the Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.
