Farmers Union of Malawi campaign for proper markets

Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM) president Kapichira Banda has called upon government to address various problems which farmers are facing whenever marketing their produce.

Banda said poor marketing is robbing farmers in broad day light.

Addressing the National Farmers Policy Conference and 11th Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM) Annual Congress on Tuesday, held under the theme “Farming for Markets and Development”

Banda said the theme was chosen to represent challenges in accessing profitable markets, markets that are based on principles of fairness.

Banda said the theme also represents aspirations for an enabling environment that support development of production capacity of farmers and facilitate farmer linkages to markets and provide for win-win solutions.

He said FUM recognizes that Agriculture is an industry and a business and it involves investment and trade.

“Therefore as farmers, we need to intensively engage the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development and the Ministry of Industry and Trade and we believe that farmers can greatly benefit when the two Ministries strengthen their working relationship,” said Banda, adding that any trade policies implemented by government affect farmers.

FUM congress has since commended government for removal of export bands on most agriculture commodities.

And FUM Chief executive officer Prince Kapondamgaga has since called for extra efforts in ensuring that agricultural cooperatives in Malawi thrive.

Last year FUM president bemoaned integrated production system (IPS) of buying tobacco saying farmers were being ripped off.

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