Peacock donates seeds for winter cropping to Salima farmers

Peacock Seed company on Tuesday donated 1000kgs Peacock maize seeds worth K1.2 million to Maganga ADC in Salina for winter cropping.

Speaking during the donation function, Peakock Seed Executive Director Felix Jumbe said the seed will cover 50 hectors.

“As a company, we wanted to contribute to government efforts by helping farmers with irrigation farming following the food shortage crisis which the country is facing. Government is targeting over 285000 farmers and we wanted to add to that with 500 more from this area. The 50 hectares which these farmers will captivate with produce 250 000 metric tonnes of maize,” said Jumbe who is also the MP for the area, Salima Central Constituency.

He therefore, asked government to provide farmers with farming equipments for good harvest.

“I am currently talking to the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation to assist the farmers with engines, some which are being kept at PVHO. These were meant for the farmers not just keeping them in Lilongwe for nothing, give the farmers the engines if we are serious in our fight against food shortage,” he said.

Tembwe EPA Agricultural Extension and Development Coordinator (AEDC) Christine Masoatenganji hailed Peacock Seed for the timely donation of the seed.

However, she bemoaned lack of engine pumps as one challenge the farmers are facing in irrigation farming in the area.

“A lot of the schemes are using old treddle pumps which are very difficult to operate and a lot of the are not functioning which is affecting the farming,” she said.

Tembwe EPA has 24 schemes of winter cropping.

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