Malawi farmers told to invest in dairy farming
Farmers in the country have been asked to have keen interest in dairy farming if they were to improve their live.
Felix Jumbe, President of Farmers Union of Malawi, said a research that they conducted recently revealed that unlike farmers who solely grow crops, a dairy farmer is capable of making more than double profits of what every farmer could make yearly.
He said a well managed dairy cow could produce five to 10 liters of milk a day, accounting for about 300 liters every month.
“If we are talking of a well to do farmer in Malawi then it is a dairy farmer. Dairy farming has really proven to be a profitable business which if seriously given the attention could help in uplifting the living standards of farmers.
“Not only that, the farming system if properly managed could also improve the economy of the country,” explained Jumbe.
He further said, “We have evidence from some of the farmers who are already doing the farming in the rural areas, their life has improved tremendously.
“My appeal to my fellow farmers therefore is let’s also try dairy farming and see the benefits we can get from it.”
Jumbe then appealed to government to support small scale farmers with financial and material support.
He also said it would be of great value for government to open up to international dairy industries and improve the links with other international markets.
“We can only make profits if we have a readily available market, we therefore ask government to open links with the international markets.
A week ago, when Vice President, Khumbo Kachali presided over the opening of the 8th farmer’s annual congress in Lilongwe, he assured the farmers that government would do everything possible that would enable them realize beneficial profits in their business.
Kachali said government was too impressed with profits that dairy farming made, after he learned from agriculture pundits.
He said if government gave the appropriate attention dairy farming deserved the country stood to improve its economy tremendously.
“Agriculture is a driving tool for our economy, we have a lot that we can do and dairy farming is one of them. As government, we will do everything possible to ensure that our farmers make profits in the business,” Kachali said.
Agriculture contributes about 90 percent of the country’s economy.
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