Air Cargo moves to boost exports
Air Cargo Malawi (ACM) has disclosed plans to encourage the country’s farmers to take advantage of various opportunities it offers to boost Malawi’s exports.
ACM Board Chairperson, Mike Mlombwa, said local farmers could take advantage of an Emirates cargo plane which flies into Malawi a couple of times a week to haul their cargo to boost their export businesses.
Mlombwa said ACM is supposed to export 103,000 kgs of merchandise through the plane but that oftentimes, it leaves Malawi empty.
He said ACM recently engaged a consultant to research on how the Emirates cargo plane could be best utilised.
“Air Cargo management and the consultant have agreed that the best way to make full use of the plane is diversify our business.
“The diversification plan includes engaging smallholder farmers to be producing various agriculture products meant for export,” Mlombwa said.
He said demand for agriculture products is very high in the Arab region; hence, Malawi stands a chance to penetrate through the market.
“Our agriculture products stand a very big chance of penetrating through the Arab market. Malawian products are organic in nature and demand for such products is very high worldwide,” he said.
Mlombwa said the targeted export produce include legumes and fresh flowers.
He further said ACM is enhancing its marketing team, to enable it to hunt for markets on behalf of the farmers.
“Our farmers have over time been hit by information gap. Most of them do not have relevant information on where they can sell their goods. Through our marketing team, we will be able to find markets for the farmers and link them to the buyers,” he said.
