By Staff Reporter
The Government has secured funding from a European company to invest back into Malawi by channeling resources towards a programme for treating high acidity levels in soils.
President Dr Lazarus Chakwera announced this today in Nairobi, Kenya, during the ‘Malawi Ready’ event.
He said that the company, which buys agricultural produce from Malawi, has acted swiftly because it understands the urgency of the situation.
“It is not just for us as a nation interested in enhancing our food production capacity but also for them as a foreign agricultural investor interested in securing a share in Malawi’s potential in becoming a future bread basket for a world in which many countries in the West and East will not be able to sustain their food needs without support from countries like Malawi,” he said.
President Chakwera highlighted the importance of the dividends from addressing Malawi’s soil acidity through implementation of the 10-year Action Plan in soil health.
“The US$163 million investment needed is extremely small compared to the time to get in the game,” he said.
Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale said the event is important in addressing soil health issues in order for Malawi to achieve food sustainability.
Additionally, Malawi’s partners in the agriculture sector have expressed commitment to work with government in scaling up initiatives outlined in the 10-year fertiliser and soil health action plan in order to establish Malawi as a champion of Southern Africa, and achieve food security.
President Chakwera, expected to return to Malawi on Friday, arrived in Kenya on Wednesday to attend the Africa Fertiliser and Soil Health Summit.
