Malawi Farmers Praise TRADE Program for Improving Livelihoods, Market Access
The TRADE program aims to address farmers' longstanding frustrations over the lack of markets, which has contributed to low productivity and poor export earnings for Malawi.
BLANTYRE, Malawi — Farmers participating in the Transforming Agriculture Through Diversification and Entrepreneurship (TRADE) program are lauding its impact on their livelihoods and market access, writes Steven Godfrey Mkweteza.
During a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony between farmers and buyers in Blantyre, beneficiaries highlighted the six-year program's role in building resilience and improving household income.
Austin Grant of the Chakala Farmers Club in Ntchisi district said, "We are now able to do groundnut seed multiplication and value-add our products to fetch good markets apart from helping us get some other additions for our daily living."
Grant reported that his club produced 83 metric tons of groundnuts last year and secured a one-year, K60 million supply contract with Kwithu Kitchen for the 2024-2025 season.
Mary Banda from Chechelele Cooperative said she has invested in village savings and loan groups and livestock since joining the program.
Arthur Ngwende, extension officer and commodity specialist for TRADE explained the purpose of the MOUs: "We want to create a win-win farmer-to-buyer partnership whereby everyone should benefit from the deal."
Ngwende said TRADE has facilitated seven farmer-to-buyer partnership contracts worth a total of k480 million.
However, Vilenji Nkhwazi, operations director for Food Kings Limited, cautioned farmers about the importance of quality service delivery, noting that poor quality often hinders market access.
The TRADE program aims to address farmers' longstanding frustrations over the lack of markets, which has contributed to low productivity and poor export earnings for Malawi.