AICC for structured legumes markets
Farmers and other stakeholders have called on the government and agro-dealers to consider putting up proper market structures for legumes trading.
The call was made on Friday in Lilongwe during Legumes Development Trust (LDT) Annual General Conference.
LDT organised the conference in partnership with the African Institute of Corporate Citizenship (AICC).
It brought together farmers, processors and exporters to review the legumes industry.
A renowned economist and former chief executive officer of the Mzuzu Coffee Planters Cooperative Union, Harrison Kalua said lack of an organised market is the biggest challenge.
“Once the market is available, production of legumes will be much better,” Kalua said.
LDT Board Chairperson, Geoffrey Kananji, said the Trust is working with the Ministry of Trade and other stakeholders in putting in place proper market structures.
“Apparently, production of legumes has increased this year. This is motivating us to work even harder,” Kananji said.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Ken Ndala, said the call is timely.
He said the government, through the National Export Strategy, has already designated legumes among targeted potential export commodities.
An analysis by International Food Policy Research Institute shows that the legumes sub-sector in Malawi has about two million smallholder farmers operating on approximately 800,000 hacters.
