By Linda Kwanjana
Lilongwe based Non Governmental organization Agriculture for Life Enhancement and Development has hailed the Mega Farm initiative saying it is the best tool to end poverty in the country.
Speaking in an interview Agriculture for Life Enhancement and Development executive director Matthews Mphande said the Mega Farms has the capacity to create employment as well as generate forex through exports.
He said the mega farms have also the capacity to provide food security at household level.
President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera launched Mega farms aimed at sinking 63, 000 hectares (ha) under irrigation and unveiled plans to mechanise farming through One-Stop Private Sector Mega Farms initiative that will see 844 medium and large-scale farmers being supported in commercial farming.
Under the scheme, the farmers are expected to grow crops for selected priority value chains to boost agriculture output in the country.
Launching the initiative, the President said the approach is a positive course that puts the nation on the path to national prosperity in collaboration with the private sector.
He described the initiative as a game-changer for the country’s economy as most of the country’s foreign exchange revenue comes from agricultural commodities.
“Given the forex challenge we have faced in the recent past, it is clear that our long-term solution has to involve boosting and diversifying agriculture productivity for export,” said Chakwera.
Among others, the initiative, seeks to facilitate the striking of deals and contracts in areas of financing, off-taking, tractor hiring, irrigation facilities provision, fertiliser and inoculant suppliers, certified seed suppliers and farm business plan development consultants.
