The Government through the second phase of the Agricultural Commercialization (AGCOM 2) Program, disbursed K6.3 billion to 63 farmer groups to help them commercialize their farming.
This follows the launch of AGCOM 2 program by President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera on 16 November 2023, at Chinthebwe Primary School ground in Ntchisi, where dummy cheques were presented to AGCOM 2 first cohort POs. In March 2024, the Minister of Agriculture also presented dummy cheques to the second cohort of POs.
The aim is to transform smallholder agriculture from mostly subsistence to commercial, to increase the resilience of food systems, and manage the country’s preparedness for food insecurity.
In the first cohort, 21 POs across the country received dummy cheques in Ntchisi while in the second cohort 41 POs received dummy cheque in Mangochi.
Speaking during the symbolic dummy cheques handover ceremony to 41 POs at Malembo in the area of Senior Chief Nankumba in Mangochi, Minister of Agriculture, Sam Dalitso Kawale MP said he was excited to see that the agricultural transformation agenda, which is in the country’s development aspirations of Mw2063, has started taking shape.
Kawale indicated that through AGCOM 2, government expects to graduate majority of smallholder farmers from substance to commercial farming, for them to realize tangible benefits from their hard working.
‘‘The Vision 2063 clearly talks about agricultural mechanization, increase in productivity, as well as having a very vibrant export market. Through empowering farmers with grants, we believe that can help in reaching that goal,’’ he said.
The Minister added that through AGCOM 2, government wants to see that subsistent farmers are transformed into commercial farmers. “That is why over MK500 billion is going to be invested into agricultural commercialization in the coming years.” said Kawale.
National Project Coordinator for AGCOM 2, Dr. Teddie Nakhumwa encouraged communities across the country to apply for AGCOM 2 matching grants. He urged farmers to form farmer-based groups of not less than 20 members each and engage themselves in agribusiness of any of their preferred value chain.
Nakhumwa said that through AGCOM 1, which ended in 2023, livelihoods of most farmers in the country have tremendously improved.
He further revealed that through AGCOM 1, the Project established 372 producers and off-takers agreements in an arrangement called Productive Alliance (PA) where farmer groups produce in an arrangement to sell to the available and agreed markets.
“We managed to establish 372 PAs in AGCOM 1, we believe that we will do more with AGCOM 2 resources. It is pleasing to note that farmers in Malawi are now geared towards commercialization,” said Nakhumwa.
In his remarks, Martin Tembo who is the chairperson of Titha Kuwala Cooperative which received a dummy cheque from AGCOM 2 said that the grant will help increase their soybean production as they plan to procure a tractor and other implements.
“We plan to use part of the MK191 million matching grant to buy a tractor and its accessories. This will help us easily cultivate our farms as we plan to reach up to 200 hectares from the current 67 hectares,” Tembo said.
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