LILONGWE-(MaraviPoat)-Center for Agriculture Transformation (CAT) wants Malawi to have well-organized value-chain markets for smallholder farmers’ produce.

CAT observes that despite 80% of its technologies adopted by farmers across the country, stable markets for produce still lacking.

This continues to attract less number of farmers to diversify from tobacco farming to other crops including legumes for commercial production.

CAT Advisory Committee Chairperson Dr. Albert Changaya told The Maravi Post in an interview on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, that the center’s new technologies championed to farmers have increased production.

He was speaking during the sidelines of CAT advisory board committee that was held in the capital Lilongwe aimed at assessing the center’s work impact on smallholder farmers since 2019.

Dr. Changaya cited Salima’s groundnut farmer who used 900 kilograms of seeds that she harvested about 2.4 tones per hectare due to improved seed variety.

He however observes that many smallholders would be attracted to crop diversification if value-chain markets are available.

“Since 2019, CAT has helped many farmers to diversify from tobacco to other crops including legumes, rice, and bananas through our demonstrations fields (smart farms) where new technologies for improved seed varieties coupled with extension services have been adopted.

“About 40, 235 farmers for 7,000 hectares have adopted new technologies resulting in 165% revenue increase per farmer and with average increase of yields production by 36%. This shows that CAT is doing great work towards uplifting smallholder farmers’ lives,” lauds Changaya.

He added, “Despite numerous challenges farmers are facing including soil degradation, high inputs cost, low extension service and among others, CAT continues partnering with government and other stakeholders to address the challenges for smallholders benefits.

“We want the Ministry of Agriculture and Trade to head up to come up with well-organised value chain market for legumes the same as tobacco, tea, coffees, and sugarcane. We want government to be a catalyst for value-chain markets for farmers’ produce. We hope that better structures can be in place for farmers to sell their produce easily”.

During this year’s national agriculture fair held on August 24-26 in Blantyre, CAT won the best service provider.

CAT gets financial support from the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World through a grant managed by the foundation’s affiliate, Agriculture Transformation Initiative (ATI).

ATI is working in Malawi towards diversifying the country’s tobacco-dependent economy.