Lilongwe University to start issuing Bachelors Degree in Agroforestry

Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources(LUANAR) council, has approved introduction of Bachelors Degree Programme in Agroforestry to promote conservation agricultural.

Launching a half-day media training workshop in Lilongwe, LUANAR Vice Chancellor, Professor George Kanyama Phiri said the programme will commerce next year.

“I am pleased to inform you that the Council of LUANAR recently approved a Bachelor of Science programme in Agroforestry commence next year,” said Phiri.

Phiri asked Malawi Government to put in place a policy on Agroforestry and Conservation agriculture technologies.

“Researchers  and members of the Building a Large Evergreen Network for Southern Africa (BLEANSA) have noted with great concern that Malawi is implementing Agroforestry and Conservation agriculture technologies without a policy in place,” said Phiri.

“This has resulted in a number of Non Government Organisations and Government departments providing conflicting messages to farmers regarding the extent of conservation agriculture and agroforestry resulting in alienation of farmers’ hence low adoption rate,” said Phiri.

Phiri commended sponsors of  dissemination conference on Agroforestry and Evergreen agriculture  “where LUANAR shall present findings of research on adoption of agroforestry, value addition and policy analyses relevant for promotion of agroforestry in Malawi.”

He said  Flemish International Cooperation Agency (FICA) through International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) have played vital role in providing the needed financial resources for the research projects.

Phiri commended  Department of Agricultural Research for the collaboration with the University.