Govt reaffirms agriculture key to transformation
Board Chairperson for Kambadwe Cooperative, Samson Beyadi said that the cooperative was looking forward to start irrigation farming on their 119 hectare land.
Chikwawa, Malawi-Minister of Trade and Industry, Sosten Gwengwe, has reaffirmed government’s commitment to transforming lives through agriculture commercialisation and flagship projects including the Shire Valley Transformation Project (SVTP), writes Comfort Bulangete.
Speaking at Kambadwe Cooperative after touring SVTP in Chikwawa on Tuesday, the minister emphasised that government wants the project to assist many cooperatives and families.
“We have about 15 cooperatives that are ready in various value chains, such as sorghum, soy beans, mangoes and groundnuts once the water starts flowing. We want to register even more cooperatives to ensure widespread benefits, not just in cultivation but also in agribusiness processing,” Gwengwe said.
“Every economy needs a foundation. With SVTP and mega farms, we will witness increased production which will lay a solid foundation for high-value exports," he said.
He explained that his ministry is working with the World Bank and local financiers to make the cost of doing agribusiness more affordable.
In his remarks, Project Coordinator for SVTP, Stanley Khaila provided insights into the project's multifaceted approach and the crucial role of the Ministry of Trade in the project’s success.
"This project has three main components: infrastructure for water supply, land tenure security and agricultural production and commercialisation. Agriculture and Trade ministries must collaborate to ensure the entire value chain is organised to the end with a focus on markets for sustainable success," he said.
Board Chairperson for Kambadwe Cooperative, Samson Beyadi said that the cooperative was looking forward to start irrigation farming on their 119 hectare land.
“We want to transform members' lives through commercial agriculture. In the second season, we will add value before selling products, as advised by the minister. We are happy to hear that there are ready markets for food," Beyadi said.