ICRISAT Encourages Malawian Farmers to Adapt to Climate-Resilient Crops
The event highlighted the importance of millets as a climate-resilient crop and the need to promote their cultivation and consumption.
LILONGWE, Malawi-The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has encouraged Malawian farmers to adapt to the production of crops that are resilient to climate shocks, such as millets, writes Bridget Mwanoka.
ICRISAT Africa Director Dr. Rebbie Harawa made the remarks in Lilongwe on Thursday, July 27, 2023, during a pre-conference event for the India-Africa International Millet Conference.
The conference, which will be held in Kenya in late August, will celebrate the International Year of Millets 2023 and promote the world's emerging smart food.
"As Malawi is set to participate in the upcoming India-Africa International Millet Conference, there is a need to promote the cultivation, production, and consumption of millets as a sustainable and nutritious smart food," Harawa said.
The workshop welcomed the participation of diverse stakeholders, including producers, farmer associations, government bodies, and others.
The goal of the workshop was to foster comprehensive dialogue and promote millet in Malawi and beyond.
The Indian High Commissioner to Malawi, Mr. S Gopalakrishnan, said that his government remains committed to supporting Malawi in realising its social and economic aspirations.
"I am pleased that Malawi will be part of the conference, and they will benefit a lot. You can see that crops like millets have proven to be more resilient to climate shocks than other cereals since they demand less water for production," Gopalakrishnan said.
Director of Agriculture Research Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Grace Kaudzu, said that the government of Malawi is looking at various policies that are promoting various value chains, including millets, sorghum, and other grains.
"We acknowledge that millets possess high nutritional value, making them an excellent choice as a healthy food for both humans and for feed in poultry and livestock farming, so it's good for our farmers to adopt them," Chiudzu said.
The Malawi stakeholders workshop addressed several objectives, such as assessing the current status of millet sector development in Africa and identifying challenges and opportunities for future growth.
Millets are a type of grain that is known for its drought tolerance and ability to withstand pests and diseases.
They also require minimal inputs for growth, making them a good option for smallholder farmers.
The International Year of Millets 2023 will be held on August 30-31 in Nairobi, Kenya, and Malawi will be participating.
The workshop was a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to come together and discuss the future of millets in Malawi.
The event highlighted the importance of millets as a climate-resilient crop and the need to promote their cultivation and consumption.