China pumps $3m to Malawi in agri-tech enhancement drive
China has released US$3 million (approximately K2.2 billion) to facilitate expansion and enhancement of the use of modern farming and agriculture technologies in order to improve production and productivity among smallholder farmers in Malawi.
The funding has been provided through the ‘technical cooperation for agricultural cooperation between China and Malawi’ project.
And speaking when he signed letters of exchange in Lilongwe on Monday, the Chinese Ambassador to Malawi, Hongyang Liu, said under the new agreement, China will dispatch eight experts to Malawi to conduct research, demonstration, promotion and training on agricultural technologies used in the growing of vegetables, fruit trees, maize and rice.
Hongyang emphasised that improving agricultural technologies is one of the dispensable part of the eight major initiatives in collaboration with Africa for industrial promotion, trade facilitation and green development, among others.
“The project will disseminate and share more useful technologies with Malawian people and conduct the bilateral cooperation to help Malawi to reinvigorate the rural areas. From 2019 to 2021, China will send 500 senior agricultural experts to Africa,” said Hongyang.
The ambassador further disclosed that his government will train Malawian youth in agro-science through various channels, undertake technology localisation demonstration programmes, and spread the experiences in agro-production technology and economic development so as to increase the income of local farmers.
“I believe the agricultural cooperation between China and Malawi, represented by China-Malawi Agricultural Technology Farm, will make much greater achievement in the future and benefit more Malawian people,” he added.
In his remarks, the Minister of Finance, Joseph Mwanamveka, said although Malawi relies on agriculture on its economy, the sector has been facing serious challenges due to factors such as climate change.
Mwanamveka therefore commended the Chinese Government for the assistance, saying it will go a long way in addressing effects of climate change, which have taken a bigger toll on agricultural production and productivity.
“This support cannot be taken for granted and I would like to assure you that the Government of Malawi will provide all the necessary support for the smooth implementation of the projects supported by your government.
“It is our hope that the partnership between the Government of Malawi and the China will continue growing stronger as we work together in developing Malawi,” he said.
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Way back in the 60s the Taiwanese established agricultural schemes around Zomba to teach farmers how to grow vegetables and fruit. What happened to those schemes? I would be wary of China; what do they expect in return?
Before we realize these Chinese will be farming in Malawi, the 8 ‘experts” will bring other assistant ‘experts” they will be given land to “show” malawians how to farm then the rest will be history. Chinese will be producing our maize and tomatoes cheaper and malawian farmers will cry foul🐒🐒
Well-done China..uR number1 economy in the world to Africa. keep assisting and sharing ur knowledge to Africa and to Malawi in abundance. Our country is small but We have a dream like that which China achieved against all Western odds . Salute ya!
same old same old, still in poverty hahahahahahahahaha
That the country would leave the criminal aspects of all Chinese.
After that there will be nothing to show for people will still be dying of hunger KKK Thus maarelawi! Ask Tractorgate they just apologise no arrest whatsoever
ma account amaina aana aanthu asekulidwe, zidyewe restraunt muone