By Gloria M’bwana
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-SeedCo Malawi sponsoreda two day International Golf Open Tournament at Lilongwe Golf Club worthy MK15million whose aim was to draw the interest of middle and higher income group into commercial farming.
In an interview with Maravi PostSeedCo Malawi Managing Director of SeedCo Boyd Luwe explained that they targeted this particular income group with an insight that it can probably invest into commercial farming which is lagging at less than 10% in Malawi.
“We’ve looked at the countries that have done well in as far as food security and farming contribution to the economy is concerned and discovered that they have relied on the middle and higher income groups participating in commercial farming and they use of highbred seeds,”Luwe said.
Luwe added that farming nowadays is different from the way it was done in the past because it is a solid income, hence the need to engage those with financial capability to get involved into serious farming.
He said SeedCo just chose golf sport just as a means to transmit the message to Malawian middle and higher income earners about need to invest in farming.
“And the idea was brought about in order to coincides with planting season,” he said.
During the tournament, SeedCo Malawi officials took their time enlightening the participants with perspectives that will allow them see farming in a different way.
The Openwhich took place on November 9 – 10, 2019 had three men’scategories namely: The Championship, Division A and Division B,with ladies having their own separate category.
The tournamentpitted 10 professionalgolfers from Malawi and Zimbabwe in an individual contestand the rest were nonprofessional.
A Malawian ChrispinMzokomeraemerged anoverall championship winner in Men’s nonprofessional category, while Fortune Leecarried the day in Ladies category.
As for Professional category, Malawi’s Paul Chidalescooped the championship while the pro arm men category Awentto Medison Roka.
After receiving her prize,a MK165,000 Chipiku shopping voucher and a trophy, Lee expressed herexcitement by thanking SeedCo for the timely tournament, saying it has taken a while since golfers had a competition at Lilongwe Golf Club and the seed dealers just saved the day.
SeedCo Malawi have all types of seeds that include fast and long term maturing maize, groundnut, beanseeds;among others.
Summary:
Pro Winner – Paul Chidale
Championship – Chris Mzokomera
A Division Paul Araujo
B Division Dr Neil Nyirongo
Ladies Category – Lee Fortune
