By Linda Kwanjana
In February this year, President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera addressed Parliament in the Capital City Lilongwe.
His state of the nation address was tailored systematically to align with Malawi 2063 vision in which agriculture is named as the main enabler.
The President announced that his leadership intends to forego mare talking but rather to embark on full large scale mega farms establishment.
“My Administration has successfully embarked on mega farms aimed
at establishing large production units for increased agricultural production. We have already established two mega farms in Chipoka, Salima and Nkopola, Mangochi with 200 hectares of maize currently under cultivation in Mangochi and 80 hectares of cotton under cultivation and production
in Chipoka.
“Additionally, through the Agriculture Commercialisation (AGCOM) project, we have also allocated 6 million dollars to the Katunga Maseya Cooperative to invest in a Mega Sugarcane Farm in Chikwawa. It is also worth mentioning that other entities such as the Malawi Prison Services and Malawi Defence Force have established their own mega farms,” he said.
When Chakwera said that, people thought it was just a joke but as we are speaking he has already delivered on his statement.
Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale on Monday undertook two major activities on mega farms.
Kawale launched private sector mega farms facilities, 8 tractors. Apart from unveiling the tractors, Kawale opened 80 consultants training at the mega farm support unit centre in Kanengo, Lilongwe.
Kawale said the launch of these tractors is in line with president Dr Chakwera’s vision. He said the tractors will be distributed in all the ADDs.
He also said the Agri-consultants will be sent to work with Malawians interested in mega farms and commercial farming.
