37 farmer groups and 15 Agri-enterprises are set to receive matching grants come this month under the Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project-MWASIP
The six-year project aims at increasing the adoption of sustainable landscape management practices and improving watershed services in targeted catchments along the Shire River.
The project is targeting the seven districts of Mangochi, Balaka, Machinga, Zomba, Blantyre, Ntcheu, and Neno).
The World Bank-funded project has three components which include scaling up land restoration in the middle and upper Shire River Basin, which among other things will provide matching grants for farmer groups and Agri-enterprises to enhance agricultural-based livelihoods and boost household incomes.
Andrew Chamaza-Agribusiness Specialist in the Ministry of Agriculture and Technical Team Member for MWASIP has told MIJ Online that under the project, 8 million US Dollars was allocated for matching grants for enhancement of agricultural-based projects, targeting 200 smallholder farmer groups and 60 Agri-enterprises.
“The grants are aimed at supporting farmers working in the project on land restoration to also increase their productivity as well as promote value edition. That is why the project is also supporting off-takers of their produce by providing matching grants to Agri-enterprises to increase market access,” Chamaza explained
Chamaza has since disclosed that 37 farmer groups have so far qualified for the matching grant to the tune of over K450 Million. At the same time, 15 Agri-enterprises are eligible for the matching grant to the tune of over K480 million and disbursement of funds will commence on 31st October 2022.
MWASIP project is being implemented to the tune of $160 million with World Bank funding $157 million while the Malawi government is contributing $3 million.
Meanwhile $8 million was allocated for the matching grants for the enhancement of agriculture-based projects in which $ 5 million is targeting smallholder farmer groups while $ 3 million is targeted for Agri-enterprises, according to Chamaza.
“We made the first call in June for farmers and Agri-enterprises to send their proposals to qualify for the matching grants and so far, we have received about 79 applications from farmers’ groups and 30 from Agri-enterprises. Out of these; 37 farmer groups and 15 Agri-enterprises passed desk and field appraisals thereby qualifying for the matching grants.” Said Chamaza.
Under the project, smallholder farmer groups have a chance of qualifying for a matching grant with the value ranging between $5,000 to $25,000 while for Agri-enterprises the value ranges between $25,000 to $50,000.