The cost of fighting the current fall of army worms whch destroyed the crops of nearly 140,000 farming families since the start of November has been estimated at K9 billion. And President Peter Mutharika has since declared the country a state of disaster and is seeking international help to contain the outbreak, as it is a […]
Representatives for Youth in Agriculture for Economic Development (YAED) are calling for coordinated effort in the fight against malnutrition and poverty alleviation among infants and the youth in the country, respectively. It says the war against malnutrition and poverty will only be won if different stakeholders join hands for the common goal. Speaking in Chiradzulu […]
In January this year, Brighton Zimba, a farmer from Chipala Extension Planning Area (EPA) in Kasungu, noticed some pests chewing up his healthy maize. Zimba had no idea what the wormy pests were, but their raid greatly reduced his yield which has been on the wane for years. “We usually have familiar pests like stalk […]
Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Joseph Mwanamvekha has commended Land ‘O’ Lakes International Development for implementing a project that will promote agricultural productivity and expand trade of various fruits and vegetable value chains. The minister made the remarks during an official launch of the Malawi Strengthening Inclusive Markets for Agriculture (MSIKA) project at […]
Land O lakes are set to roll out a Malawi Strengthening Inclusive Markets for Agriculture (MSIKA) five-year value-chain development project to improve productivity and commercialization of vegetables and fruits. Speaking at a news conference in Lilongwe, Land o Lakes Country Director, Timothy Nzioka, described building the capacity of farmers and producer groups as key for […]
The World Bank has approved $166 million (about K121.8 billion at current exchange rate) to transform Malawi’s agricultural productivity through irrigation, lay the foundations for commercialization, and improve management of natural resources in the Shire Valley. The financing, approved Thursday October 19th, 2017 by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors is for the first […]
African Institute of Corporate Citizenship (AICC) Wednesday organised a debate in Lilongwe where panellists representing the country’s agriculture sector scrutinised the current status and projected the future of the country’s grain market. AICC Chief Executive Officer Felix Lombe said the debate, which was attempting to answer the question “Should Malawi extend the Auction System and […]
Minister of Agriculture, irrigation and Water Development Joseph Mwanamvekha Wednesday officially launched the 2017/18 Farm Input subsidy (FISP) Programme with a warning to suppliers to desist from selling substandard inputs to farmers. Speaking at Mzura in Mchinji during the launch ceremony, the Minister said government would deal with all the suppliers that would sale farmers […]
The Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS-USA) delegate, Jeanne Masse expressed gratitude and hope for the Agriculture Initiative program to be undertaken by the Catholic Church in the country in response to Pope Francis’s call to address food insecurity in Africa. This was said when two delegates from PMS (Missio) USA, John O’Neil and Jeanne Masse visited […]
Officials at Malawi’s Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development got the members of the Parliamentary Public Accounts (PAC) angry after they failed to explain how they could not account for a whooping K7 billion expenditure with the members fearing that the money could have gone into people’s pockets rather than used for government activities. […]
Farm Radio Trust (FRT) intends to mobilize 98 farmer groups in Mangochi to equip them with skills to access and disseminate agricultural extension services through radios and mobile phones. The farmer groups will be mobilized from all 11 Extension Planning Areas (EPAs) to fill the existing gap in extension services. The initiative which is under […]
President Arthur Peter Mutharika has asked the private sector in the country to woo more investors in agriculture to recapitalize the industry for the country’s economy to grow. Mutharika made the remarks on Wednesday during the official opening of the l4th National Agriculture Fair in Blantyre which will run from l6 to l9 August 2017. […]
President Peter Mutharika has again put his foot down on stopping local farmers exporting maize, maintaining a two-year ban, saying the ban would be lifted only when all Strategic Grain Reserves (SGR) in the country are filled up. Mutharika said this on Wednesday when presided over the official opening of this year’s 14th National Agriculture Fair at […]
The Republic of Sudan has disclosed plans to work collaboratively with Malawi to enhance the latter’s agriculture sector. This was brought to light Friday at Kamuzu Palace where Sudanese envoy to Malawi, Hussein Awad Ali presented his letter of credence to President Prof Peter Mutharika. Awad Ali said the deep rootedness of Sudan and Malawi […]
Nsanje irrigation expert say the risk of drought disasters which the district has been facing over the years can be alleviated by the use of solar energy powered irrigation which improves crop yields subsequently achieve food security. District irrigation officer Movete Mkandawire while applauding Enhancing Community Resilience Programme (ECRP) which is under the consortia led […]
Adoption and use of modern and proven technologies in agriculture is one sure way through which Malawi can achieve food security and reach out to export markets. Principal Secretary for Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Mrs. Erica Maganga, made the remarks when she officially opened a day-long National Inoculant Conference in Lilongwe on Thursday. The […]
The Malawi Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (MaFAAS), organizers of the on-going extension week, has thrown its weight behind proposals for government to officially commission Farmers Day in the country. Farmers who are taking part in the Extension Week in Lilongwe asked the government through deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Aggrey Massi to […]
The planned agriculture extension week slated for next week is set to act as a platform to expose new technologies which have not yet trickled down to farmers. Spokesperson for the Organising Committee Maurice Manthombe has said over the course of time new technology has been developed which if adopted could make a lasting impact […]