Minister challenges Malawi activists to offer solutions on agriculture economy
Minister of Agriculture and water development Allan Chiyembekeza has challenged Malawi Civil Society activist to bring alternative ideas on agriculture economy than just criticising government policies.
Chiyembekeza said this when he officially opening CISANET 2015 National Conference and Annual General Meeting.
He said time for just criticising government policies is over.
Chiyembekeza said it has become a habit that experts just criticise each and every government policy.
“It’s time to change the way how we transact business, we are all government here, if you say government has failed you are part of government system and you are part of those contributing to failure,” said Chiyembekeza in the presence of newly appointed NGO Board Chief Executive Officer Voice Mhone.
Chiyembekeza said the meeting brings another opportunity to deliberate on issues that are relevant for agriculture development.
“Under the theme ; Science and Technology for Agriculture Development, it is the intention of this Conference to make proposals on how science and technology can be mainstreamed in the Agriculture Sector Wide Approach (ASWAP) leveraging on agricultural human resource development and agriculture policy development,” said Chiyembekeza.
Chiyembekeza revealed that as requested during the last CISANET AGM , Government has drafted National Agriculture Policy which would be finalized this year 2015.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees Cisanet board chair Rex Chapota thanked Development partners European Union, Irish Aid, GIZ, Oxfam,NASFAM and the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources for the financial support.
Chapota said CISANET believes that Malawi needs to have a body that will provide the Ministry and the whole agriculture sector in Malawi with support in addressing systemic bottlenecks in delivering on apriority national agenda for achieving growth and food security.
Chapota said CISANET believe that Malawi needs to have a vision for the development of the agriculture sector at least for the next 50 years to come.
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We pride ourselves as being an agricultural nation where we only grow crops for half the year. The rest of the year is more or less wasted. This has to change so we can double our production.
I don’t understand why government spends 50 billion buying sand(fertilizer) and yet the population can’t access the basic needs like roads, hospital, education, water, electricity etc. Our priorities are upside down and this country will remain poor till the second coming of Christ.
Criticism show that the govt is astray and the people bihind the plans do so to harvest not for the betterment of the nation hence government won’t accept points from outside the party for fear of being trapped in their dirty games
I DONT UNDERDTAND
IS THE MINISTER CHALLENGING FOR IDEAS FROM ACTIVISTS
OR
BEGGING IDEAS FROM ACTIVISTS ??
or would like to buy ideas from other pple ??
As they are CLUELESS GOVT ???
I thought you touted about having solutions during the election campaign? Now you ‘ve run out of ideas? And you want help?
How long will you hate the president, issues only please, that hatred will end up killing you
Agriculture is Malawi`s Economic sleeping Giant. I just don’t see anyone in Peter`s government who can wake the giant up. No body is critising here…everyone is only trying to push the government in to the right Direction because it is everyone`s concern. Easy Mr Minister.
Everyone has been telling the government to remove the targetted subsidy on inputs and focus on commercial farmers who can make good use of the resources … Has the government listened! So what do they want?
CISANET has always provided solutions but it looks your government does not take them on board. for example CISANET through it’s board chair said remove the 10% increase on internet and sms for farmers to access information easily. Other countries are better in agriculture because they embraced technology! Is Malawi on that path if we introduce taxes on internet or sms?
577 BILLION woyeeee