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Malawi Government Impressed with USAID Funded Farmer-to-Farmer Project
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This article was originally written by Chancy Namadzunda and published by the Nyasa Times here.
Authorities have expressed satisfaction with the efforts by the Washington DC based non partisan organization, called the Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA) for implementing a five year project called Farmer-to-Farmer observed it has generated a rapid and sustainable economic growth in Malawi's agricultural sector.
The project started in 2013 and rolled out in 20 districts has among others helped improve rural livelihoods by empowering the private sector farmers. Controller of Agriculture Extension and Technical services in Ministry of Agriculture Irrigation and Water Development, Albert Changaya said through the project the organization has been able to support farmers with technical knowhow on smart agriculture practices.
Changaya disclosed this in Lilongwe during CNFA's Farmer-to-Farmer project meeting.
He said the project has complemented Malawi government's priority agendas.
Said Changaya: "The Farmer-to-Farmer project by CNFA is a pool of knowledge where Malawians farmers gets agricultural trainings and it covers areas of horticulture, soy beans, and legumes among other crops including livestock."
CNFA Country Director Rodrick Chirambo in his remarks described their project as an oriented approach for empowering farmers in the country.
Chirambo explains: "Since we started this project achievements have been scored. We have completed 126 assignments of which 90 percent are what we call the core value chains of horticulture and legumes 60 percent are smallholder farmers cooperatives while 22 are private small and medium-sized enterprises."
Chirambo said the most famous training programs under the project are crop production and business management skills that represents 70 percent of all assignments.
Blantyre based Chilomoni Integrated Fish Farmers is one of the outstanding cooperative groups benefited from the project according to Chirambo.
Manager for Zomba based Mwandama Cooperatives, Bornwell Kaunga said despite progress made there's need for CNFA to improve in time management if the project is to remain successful.
The CNFA's five year project started in 2013 and will wind up in this year (2018) with financial from USAID which coughed in $3 million according to CNFA boss Rodrick Chirambo.