Mutharika tells SG of Flanders govt: Malawi to utilize water, enhance food, commercial crop production

In order to achieve self-sufficiency, Malawi government has commenced large scale irrigation farming through Green Belt Initiative to utilize water from lakes and perennial rivers to enhance the country’s food and commercial crop production.

President Professor Peter Mutharika Wednesday told Secretary General Koen Verlaeckt of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Flanders Government during an audience at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.

He expressed appreciation to the Government of Flanders for the timely humanitarian assistance which was provided to the government of Malawi towards the devastating floods that affected 15 districts in the country.

“I am hopeful that the Flanders Government will assist us in our post disaster reconstruction and recovery phase, which is still posing challenges,” said Mutharika.

He commended the Flanders government for concerted efforts on promoting agricultural extensions under national Sector-Wide Approach (SWAP) project for Agriculture and Food security which is currently confined to two districts of Kasungu and Mzimba.

Mutharika said the SWAP program is mainly concentrating on commercial agriculture, the processing of Agricultural products and market development among others.

Malawi’s President therefore informed Verlaeckt that government believes that agriculture is a key to enhancing food security, economic growth and wealth creation.

Mutharika therefore request the Flanders government to consider supporting Malawi in the implementation of this project as it will significantly boost security and economic growth.

On education sector, Mutharika said government has broadened education system towards skills development in Malawians youths and communities.

“We are constructing Community Technical Colleges across the country for our youths and communities. In so doing, we are also providing opportunities for the many youths who fail to enroll in the public Universities,” he said.

He said government is creating a skilled workforce to support call for direct investment in Malawi. These skills are necessary for industrialization, job creation, and creation of new businesses for economic growth.

“We believe that the future of any country heavily depends on the knowledge, skills, and expertise of its youth. As such, my Government attaches special importance to this priority programme,” he explained.

In his remarks, Verlaeckt said Flanders government is committed to help Malawi to improve the lives of the country through the implementation of different programs in the sectors of health, education and Agriculture.

Verlaeckt promised Malawi government to strengthen the bilateral cooperation between the two governments.

He said the work will roll out across the country but currently they are working in two districts of Kasungu and Mzimba.

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