Joyce Banda inspires hope at Machinga rally
Malawi’s Vice President Joyce Banda has reiterated the need for the country to diversify agricultural production modernization saying there are a lot of cash crops that people can grow to earn a living and boost our export base.
Speaking at her People’s Party rally in Machinga Central East, Banda says people’s lives can change tremendously if other options in agriculture are explored.
She said PP will assess every area and give people what best can suit their area. She gave an example of Chief Ngwale of Domasi who makes K42, 000 per month from selling milk.
Banda explained that people need not to concentrate on growing tobacco and cotton only but grow other cash crops that can earn money for them.
“Tobacco is not fetching good prices at the auction floors, diversifying will give chance to people to grow other cash crops that can fetch them good prices after selling,” she said
The vice president expressed concern over lack of income and decent jobs among Malawians. She said PP will generate economic growth with wage and employment creation.
“Apart from ending poverty as a party, we will try to create jobs for the people so that they should be self reliant,” she said.
Maria Misheck of Machinga says Malawi needs parties that can explore other areas of agriculture not concentrate on coupon distribution for fertiliser subsidy only.
“Some of us do not grow maize what will we do with a coupon? And if we grow maize they tell us there is no fertilizer at Admarc, what we are supposed to eat and do?” she queried.
Random interviews indicate that though people are happy with the coupon distribution system, not all people grow maize and that corruption is rampant at Admarc.
PP agriculture policy that will be in the manifesto has received overwhelming response from the public saying it explores other areas of agriculture which will help improve the economy of the country.
