Thousands of communities under various cooperatives are piling praises for the returns from the Agricultural Commercialization Project 2.
This follows approvals of funds under the project which has allowed the cooperative to acquire state of the arts equipment so as to mechanize and commercialize agriculture.
According to one, Victor Kambwali, secretary for Umodzi Cooperative in Blantyre which has focus on growing soybean they received around MK46 Million which has allowed them purchase a tractor.
‘’This is a worthwhile and our grouping which is dominated by the youth will now realize our goal to export more. We are grateful f for this funding which has also seen us land an agreement with a Zomba based off taker ,’’he said.
His view is widely shared by Rhoda Zulu, a committee member of Tafika Cooperative which acquired about MK 36 Million which is according to her vital in their velvet beans farming.
‘’We have been looking for opportunities and when this came we would not hesitate. Today, this machine shall ensure that we leave the traditional way of farming as it were, ’’she said.
These are sentiments that communities in Chikwawa under Kasinthula Cane Growers Cooperative are also backing.
For minister of agriculture Sam Kawale, what is crucial now is that farmers are making convincing request to access the support.
He said that is synonymous with intentions to extensively produce for Malawi to tame challenges of forex.
‘’We must say here that we are delighted that farmers are accessing these resources in numbers. Until now, government is very much committed to engaging the farmers for us to sell more, even outside the country. That is the path we must take as a nation,’’ said Kawale when he handed over tractors in matching grants.
Agcom II project that seeks to transform smallholder farming into commercial agriculture.
The programme follows the success of Agcom I implemented from six years ago with $95 million from the World Bank. On the other hand, Agcom II is worth $265 million.
Until now, the poject has seen over 22 farmer cooperatives from various districts receiving funding for agricultural activities.
