Machinga Agricultural Development Division (ADD) has urged farmers in Mangochi District to conduct market research on crops that perform well locally if they are to succeed in farming. The ADD’s programme manager Adreck Banda made the remarks yesterday at Maiwa Extension Planning Area (EPA) in Traditional Authority Chowe in the district during the opening of a five-day training for lead farmers under the EPA. At least 40 lead farmers from 20 sections are participating in the training where after completion, they are expected to form a cooperative to enhance teamwork and improve their farming activities.

Banda: Training will improve productivity. | Ayamba Kandodo Banda stressed the importance of the training, noting that agriculture is one of the key pillars of the country’s long-term development strategy, Malawi 2063, which seeks to transform the country to middle-income status. “This training will equip farmers with knowledge and skills to improve productivity. I am, therefore, encouraging them to form cooperatives and focus on crops that thrive in their areas,” he advised.

Banda said cooperatives offer solutions to many challenges farmers face, including access to better markets, loans and stronger bargaining power. He commended First Capital Bank (FCB) which supported the training with K6 million, saying such partnerships are crucial in empowering farmers. FCB Southern Region cluster manager Linda Msukwa said the bank funded the initiative as part of its corporate social responsibility.

“We want farmers to grow economically so that more people can engage in business with us,” she said. World Food Programme (WFP) head of food systems Dorica Singini, whose agency partnered the ADD, said the organisation aims to end hunger and remains committed to working with the government to strengthen farmers’ capacity and promote cooperative formation. “Our goal is to build farmers’ capacity so that they can achieve food security at household level,” she said.

One of the trainees, Yusuf Muhammad, who chairs Maiwa lead farmers, expressed gratitude for the training. Machinga ADD covers Mangochi, Machinga, Balaka and Zomba districts in the Eastern Region.