The 19th National Agriculture Fair in Malawi: A Step Towards Agricultural Commercialization
Blantyre, Malawi - On Thursday, August 24th, 2023, the Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) inaugurated this year's highly anticipated 19th National Agriculture Fair, writes Happy Valirani.
The theme for this year's event, "Achieving Self-Reliance Through Agricultural Commercialization," reflects Malawi's commitment to harnessing the potential of its agricultural sector to drive economic growth and food security.
The launch event took place at the Chichiri Trade Fair Grounds in Blantyre and was graced by the presence of the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, Honourable Sam Dalitso Kawale, who also served as the guest of honour.
In his keynote address, Minister Kawale underscored the importance of Malawi's agricultural sector as a key driver of income generation for the nation.
He emphasized that for Malawi to achieve self-reliance and realize its vision outlined in Malawi 2063, it must transition to modern farming technologies and mechanization.
These advances are vital for the commercialization of agriculture and ensuring food sufficiency, both of which are central pillars of Malawi's development agenda.
Minister Kawale shed light on several government initiatives aimed at realizing this vision. Notably, he mentioned collaborative efforts with institutions like the Malawi Prison Service, Malawi Defence Force, and the Greenbelt Authority to implement Mega Farms.
These initiatives are set to be launched in just two weeks' time and are expected to significantly boost agricultural productivity.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Agriculture has introduced various programs to support farmers of all scales, from smallholders to large-scale producers.
Minister Kawale highlighted initiatives such as the PRIDE program, which focuses on irrigation farming, and the Agriculture Commercialization (AGCOM) program, boasting over 300 billion kwacha in funding dedicated to supporting irrigation farming.
Minister Kawale acknowledged the challenges ahead, notably the high costs associated with farming equipment.
However, he reiterated the government's unwavering commitment to propel Malawi into the ranks of economies that derive their strength from the agricultural sector.
"We will achieve this vision, even though progress may be gradual," he asserted.
"We recognize the high costs of farming equipment, but we are actively exploring avenues to provide small, medium, and large-scale farmers with access to tools like tractors."
Deputy President of MCCCI, Boyd Luwe, also chimed in, expressing satisfaction with this year's Agriculture Fair.
He emphasized the platform's importance for farmers to exhibit their products and exchange ideas, particularly on ways to uplift subsistence farmers and bolster agricultural industrialization.
"We want farmers to view agriculture not merely as a hobby but as a serious business that contributes to the nation's industrialization and the export of crops that generate much-needed foreign exchange," said Luwe.
Luwe revealed plans to expand the National Agriculture Fair to all three regions of the country, ensuring that farmers in remote areas have access to this invaluable platform.
He noted that the launch received funding from the World Bank, the Norwegian Embassy, and IFAD, while also extending an invitation to both the government and private companies to collaborate in achieving the goals of agricultural commercialization.
The 19th National Agriculture Fair, slated to run from August 24th to 26th, 2023, has drawn the participation of over 179 exhibitors, marking a 5% increase from the 2022 edition.
This promising turnout underscores the growing enthusiasm and commitment of Malawians toward harnessing the potential of their agricultural sector.