The Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) has emphasized the need for Malawi to have agro forestry policy in order to harmonize activities targeting farmers for technology adaptation as well as lessening projects duplications.
The call comes amid absence of the country’s Agriculture National Policy after 51 years of independence which has lead to low uptake of modern agricultural technologies including conservation agriculture, agro forestry, and smart agriculture leading to food insecurity.
With funding from Irish Aid and Government of Flunders, Luanar is implementing Building a Large Evergreen Agriculture Network for Southern Africa (BLEANSA) in countries including Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique, Lesotho, and Malawi among others.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Professor George Kanyama Phiri, Luanar’s Vice Chancellor on Friday, July 24, 2015 in the capital Lilongwe when the his institution was sharing its research findings for farmers to adapt the agricultural technologies in addressing effects of climate change, worried with the absence of a stand a lone policy to guide the sector.
Professor Kanyama Phiri said absence of the agro forestry policy has led to duplication of projects which have confused farmers to which best practice could be adapted due to conflicting information and messages gotten from different organizations.
“Agro forestry is an integral component for combating effects of climate change which allow farmers to cultivate crops alternatively with trees that provides nutrients to soil structure. If this model of agriculture is adapted, it increases crop production without necessary depending on rainfall. Some countries are doing well on the same.
“The problem rises in the adaption by farmers due to conflicting messages on the technology they get from various agricultural organizations’ extension workers as there are duplications of projects. This is contributed by lack of proper policy on the same which could provide universal guidelines to which technologies are suitable for Malawian farmers.
“This is the reason we are calling the ministry of agriculture to swiftly coming up with a clear policy on agro forestry which will guide all players in disseminating one messages to farmers which will enhance adaptation rates on agricultural technologies”, appeals Professor Kanyama Phiri.
The Maravi Post later caught up with Dr. Wilkinson Makumba, Director of Agricultural Services in the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation on prospects which will necessitate technologies adaptation through viable policy as per Luanar request, who said the ministry was making efforts especially to come up with an outstanding National Agricultural Policy which Agro-forestry will be incorporated.
“The ministry shares the same sentiments Luanar has pointed out on low agricultural technology adaption which is at 15% due to various reasons including population growth, lack of quality seeds and conflicting messages farmers get from extension workers. We have also noticed that many agricultural NGOs are providing different information to a particular technology which confuses the farmers. Therefore, efforts have been made on coming up with the Agriculture National Policy to harmonize all related activities on agriculture in general which will be launched soon”, assures Dr Makumba.
