US up-grades dairy management in Malawi – Clinton
US Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton on Sunday said her government was committed to continue nurturing the cordial bilateral relationship that existed between Malawi and the United States of America (USA).
She was speaking at a ceremony USAID organized to welcome Clinton at the same time enable her to interact with farmers who were engaged in dairy corral dubbed Lumbadzi Milk Bulking group at Chigonthi village in the area of Traditional Authority M’bang’ombe in Lilongwe district.
Clinton who specifically was in Malawi for one day to meet the State President Mrs Joyce Banda and thereafter proceeded to South Africa to visit the world wide respected Nelson Mandela, said her country had set aside a lump sum of money to assist improve people’s livelihood in the country.
“My visit, today, to Malawi is a testimony of the excellent-long- existing- bilateral relationship our countries established. I am so happy to be here and see what you are doing. I am delighted to meet some of the farmers including the Chairperson of the Milk bulking group Margret Chinkwende. We see a partnership.
“The government of the United States is very proud to be a partner with all of you. For the past decades the US has been helping Malawi in various initiatives including the health sector, education, HIV/Aids, climate change, agriculture, businesses and the vulnerable children among others. We will continue with our programmes to helping Malawi,” said Clinton.
Clinton said they were determined to assist Malawi for the welfare of all the people in the country.
“We want to help Malawi for families, children and husbands to succeed, “said the Secretary of State.
It was disclosed at the ceremony that the USA government had set aside US 36 million Dollars (over K9 billion) for the operation of Lumbadzi Milk Bulking group and other agricultural activities in the country.
She thanked USAID for its involvement in implementing Lumbadzi Milk Bulking group.
In a separate interview with Malawi News Agency after the ceremony at Chigonthi , Manager of Malawi Milk Producers Association, Herbert Chagona thanked USAID for organizing the ceremony, saying many farmers would be persuaded to undertake dairy corral management.
“This was a symbolic ceremony, more so with the presence of the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The World Health Organisation encourages heads of states to civic educate people to be interested in raising cows for milk production, saying milk contained important nutrients for healthy life.
“There are 10,000 dairy cows in Malawi; we need to have more dairy cows in the country. The ceremony we held today symbolises a call for change of attitude among farmers,” said Chigona.
President Banda was represented at the ceremony by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ephrem Mganda Chiume and Minister of Agriculture Prof. Peter Mwanza.
Clinton arrived in Malawi after visiting Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan and Senegal. A source from the Embassy of the USA said the Secretary of State was scheduled to also visit Ghana after her working schedule in South Africa.
