By Arnold Namanja
Some farmers’ cooperatives in Blantyre have cherished the support they have been receiving from government through the Agricultural Commercialisation Project (AGCOM), saying the initiative will go a long way in empowering them as active participants in growing the country’s economy.
Speaking Tuesday in the area of Senior Chief Kuntaja in the district, Umodzi and Tafika farmers’ cooperatives spoke in unison to commend government for supporting smallholder farmers in their agricultural productivity.
Secretary for Umodzi Farmers’ Cooperative, Victor Kambwali said AGCOM has enhanced their production levels since they accessed the grant.
Before the grant, the cooperative was using hoes which Kambwali said was labour intensive.
“Our main pre-occupation is the cultivation of soya beans and other legumes. The tractors will contribute to increased crop production,” Kambwali said.
Kambwali observed that agriculture has the potential to change people’s lives through job creation as well as improved income for both national and household levels.
He disclosed that the cooperative has struck a deal with Ken Investment in Zomba which has provided a readily available market as its off-taker.
Chairperson for Tafika Framers Cooperative, Agnes Muhowa said the cooperative which started as a social group sharing ideas received the grant from AGCOM with a component of group dynamics and financial management training to effectively carry out their operations.
Muhowa also disclosed that they have entered into an arrangement with Monn Puffs as an off-taker of their crop produce.
“It is our desire to be a model cooperative in the southern region in particular and Malawi as whole. Having received the implements, we are geared to venture in large scale farming in 2024 with establishment of a big farm to have a yield of above 400 tons of velvet beans,” she said.
District Commissioner for Blantyre, Alex Mdooko commended government for offering various interventions in the agriculture sector noting that it is possible to transform the country’s economy through agricultural commercialisation and mechanisation.
“Apart from commercialisation and mechanisation of agriculture, there is need to diversify crop production to deal with effects of climate change,” Mdooko said.
He encouraged cooperatives in the district to foster unity of purpose for effective and meaningful development to be achieved in the country.
AGCOM provided matching grants of K132 million to Umodzi Youth Farmers’ Cooperative established in 2019 with 29 members while Tafika Farmers and Marketing Cooperative which started in 2018 with 248 members got K146 million.
