ACADES staff walks the Vice President (centre) around their premises
By Mark Ndipita
At a time when Malawi is accelerating efforts to transform its agricultural sector, one youth-led cooperative is standing out as a powerful symbol of what is possible when innovation, partnerships, and investment come together.
Malawi’s journey towards agricultural transformation is gaining momentum. At the heart of this shift is a new generation of young agri-preneurs that are turning ambitions into measurable impact.
At the centre of this recognition is ACADES, a youth-led agribusiness cooperative based in Lilongwe, which has grown from a simple idea among university graduates into a thriving enterprise linking over 3,000 farmers to markets, finance, and modern farming systems.
A recent high-level visit to ACADES in Lilongwe by the World Bank Group and the Government of Malawi has reaffirmed the transformative impact of the Agricultural Commercialisation (AGCOM 2) initiative.
Led by Ndiamé Diop, World Bank Regional Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa, and accompanied by the Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Roza Fatch Mbilizi, the delegation toured the ACADES facilities that are quickly becoming a national model for agricultural commercialisation and witnessed firsthand how strategic investments under AGCOM 2 are unlocking the potential of youth-led agribusinesses.
Walking through ACADES’ modern storage and processing facilities, solar-powered water systems, and aggregation centres, the delegation witnessed how AGCOM 2 investments are reshaping rural livelihoods.
“This is exactly what the future of agriculture in Malawi should look like,” said Diop, visibly impressed by the scale and organisation of the cooperative.
The World Bank Regional Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa added, “ACADES demonstrates that with the right support, smallholder farmers can transition into commercially viable agribusinesses that create jobs, increase exports, and raise incomes.”
Ndiamé Diop emphasized that agriculture remains central to Malawi’s economic transformation.
“For the World Bank, agriculture is essential, particularly for countries like Malawi where a large share of the workforce depends on farming. Without higher agricultural productivity, it is impossible to raise incomes and reduce poverty,” he said.
Diop further highlighted the importance of innovation and partnerships. He explained, “I am encouraged by what these young people have achieved. This showcases the importance of aggregation, vision, and strong leadership. These are exactly the kinds of projects we are proud to support.”
The Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Honourable Roza Fatch Mbilizi said that the visit reinforced government’s commitment to placing youth and women at the centre of agricultural transformation.
“These young people have challenged us that the youth are not only the future, but the present,” she explained.
The Minister added, “This is why our development agenda prioritises investing in young people so they can fully realise their potential.”
The Minister further highlighted the importance of continued support. “This country has many capable young people, and without support from government and partners, we cannot progress. ACADES clearly demonstrates what our youth can achieve when given the opportunity.” Mbilizi emphasized.
The Minister also called for stronger linkages between education and farmer enterprises. “We must invest more in our universities to ensure graduates are ready to start businesses in areas like mechanisation, seed production, and value addition,” she explained, adding that supporting youth and women in agriculture is not optional but it is essential for Malawi’s economic transformation.”
Founded in 2015 by five graduates from the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, ACADES has grown into a vibrant agribusiness cooperative working with over 3,000 farmers.
With support from AGCOM 2, the cooperative secured a matching grant exceeding MK130 million, complemented by its own contribution, to develop key infrastructure including storage facilities, processing plants, and a solar-powered water system.
Hastings Nhlane is ACADES Chairperson. He said, “We started as a simple idea among young graduates who believed agriculture could be a business. Today, we are producing, aggregating, processing, and supplying agricultural products to both local and regional markets.”
Nhlane highlighted the transformative role of AGCOM 2 support. He explained, “The support we have received has been a game changer. We now have modern facilities, reliable water supply, electricity, and improved road access which are things that were once major barriers.”
He added, “Our focus is not just production, but building a complete agribusiness ecosystem where farmers can access inputs, markets, and fair prices. Our next step is to scale up processing and expand into export markets. We want ACADES to become a leading agribusiness brand in the region.”
The ACADES story reflects the broader success of the AGCOM 2 programme in transforming smallholder farming into commercially viable enterprises. Through matching grants, technical support, and capacity building, the programme is enabling farmer organisations to move beyond subsistence to structured, market-oriented production.
The cooperative’s integrated model which links production, aggregation, value addition, and market access demonstrates how agriculture can drive inclusive economic growth.
During the visit, the delegation also observed strong adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices, particularly in soybean production, contributing to improved yields and soil health.
As Malawi continues to pursue agricultural commercialisation, ACADES offers a compelling blueprint for scaling impact anchored in youth leadership, strategic partnerships, and targeted investment.
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