The Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) council chairperson Professor Zachary Kasomekera has said the Lilongwe Center for Agricultural Transformation will enable farmers as well as the general public to easily access research, innovation and technology which will in turn enhance agricultural productivity and commercialization in the country.
He made the remarks Thursday when Commissioners from the National Planning Commission (NPC) toured the construction site which is at Natural Resources College (NRC) campus in Lilongwe.
The project is being funded by the Foundation for a Smoke Free World’s Agricultural Transformation Initiative (ATI) to the tune of USD3 million to become an anchor center for agricultural research, technology, innovation and development in the country, supporting the realization of the Malawi 2063 first pillar of Agricultural Productivity and Commercialization
“Whether one like it or not, agriculture will remain a backbone of our economy, that’s why it is the first pillar in the Malawi 2063. The importance of this center is that it will bring experts, innovations and technology closer to farmers which in turn will change the agriculture landscape.
“What will change is not agriculture, but how we are doing it. For so long, we have been relying on the old ways of farming, we should have moved from using a hand-hoe for ridging and planting. We need to find new ways which will benefit our farmers. We need more research.
“As we strive towards agriculture productivity, we need to make sure that our farmers have proper storage, transportation as well as value addition to commercialize the industry. All these issues will be partly answered through these buildings,” he said.
NPC board chairperson Richard Mkandawire said the project is the right step towards realization of Malawi 2063 first pillar of agricultural productivity and commercialization.
“This is one of the projects that is clearly showing that it is possible to transform the agriculture industry in the country. We need a wide range of research and technology that will benefit farmers. Even the Mega Farms that we are establishing as the country, they will need assistance from this center, so it will provide a chance to farmers to learn innovative ways of practicing agriculture.
Country Director for Foundation for a Smoke Free World, Dr Candida Nakhumwa said the project seeks to enable farmers especially smallholder one’s practice sustainable agriculture.
“We can’t do things the same way our fathers used to do, we need to embrace agriculture productivity and commercialization. This is the center where farmers will get all the answers directly from the experts in the industry,” she said.
Construction of the centre which started last year is expected to complete before end of December this year according to the contractor S R Nicholas Limited.
