Malawi Expands Agriculture Diversification Program to 4 New Districts
The expansion aims to help Malawi achieve its vision of an inclusively wealthy and self-reliant nation through agricultural transformation by 2063 under the country's long-term development plan.
DOWA, Malawi — The Malawian government will expand its Transforming Agriculture Through Diversification and Entrepreneurship (TRADE) program to four additional districts to align with the agricultural commercialization goals of the country's Malawi 2063 development agenda, the director of rural development announced Thursday, writes Vincent Gunde.
Chrissy Chiumya said the TRADE program, which currently operates in several districts, will be rolled out in Mzimba, Chikwawa, Phalombe, Ntcheu and Dowa to improve sustainable livelihoods of rural residents.
Speaking at a meeting of the Dowa District Executive Committee, Chiumya said the $127 million program will expand to include three or four more targeted commodities beyond soybeans and groundnuts in its third year, gradually reaching 14 to 15 of Malawi's 28 districts.
"TRADE would expand in the third year to additional 3-4 more commodities while dropping soybeans and groundnuts to additional 3-4 new districts resulting into a geographical coverage of 14-15 districts out of a total of 28 districts in Malawi using a specific set of criteria," Chiumya told local officials.
She said the number of households to benefit in each district will depend on their involvement in production of the particular commodities being promoted.
The TRADE program supports linkages between smallholder farmers and commodity market actors, while investing in infrastructure and strengthening government institutions to enhance agricultural development.
"This is an opportunity for the people of Dowa to benefit closely from the TRADE program's interventions," Chiumya said, adding the work will require significant collaboration across stakeholders.
The expansion aims to help Malawi achieve its vision of an inclusively wealthy and self-reliant nation through agricultural transformation by 2063 under the country's long-term development plan.