By Chisomo Phiri
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost )-The Malawi Agroecology-Hub, a coalition of stakeholders passionate about agroecology on Friday convened a pivotal dialogue meeting centered on seed and seed systems in Lilongwe.
The gathering brought together a diverse group of experts, including agriculture specialists, policymakers, researchers, farmers, civil society organizations, seed companies, development partners, farmer organizations, media representatives, and government officials.
The meeting’s objective was to tackle pressing issues related to seed quality and systems.
In an interview with journalists, Chairperson of the Malawi Agroecology-Hub and Project Coordinator for Biodiversity Conservation Initiative,Fredrick Sanga, said the dialogue aimed to address concerns raised by various stakeholders.
He highlighted the dual nature of Malawi’s seed systems – formal and informal.
He said while the informal system plays a vital role in providing access to seeds for many farmers, it often lacks recognition and support.
“The informal sector caters to 70% of the seeds used by farmers, yet it receives limited research attention and institutional backing from the government,” said Sanga.
