Agriculture Minister Sam Kawale has challenged Mwimba College of Agriculture graduates to go beyond seeking employment and embrace farming as a business.
Kawale was speaking in Lilongwe on Wednesday at the graduation ceremony of about 275 students who have carted home diplomas in various areas of speciality.
Kawale said the graduates need to change their mindset and start thinking of how they could help Malawi create the much-needed jobs through what they have learnt in class.
He said much as some of the graduates will be absorbed by the government and the private sector, their main focus should be to become commercial farmers and create jobs for others.
“It is very possible to become rich through farming in Malawi. Many people have done it. If you look at many beautiful houses in town, most of them are products of farming,” Kawale said.
Agricultural Research and Extension Trust (Aret) Chief Executive Officer Albert Changaya, whose institution owns Mwimba College, said the training school has become very instrumental in moulding many officers working in the agriculture sector in government.
Changaya said the institution also equips students with entrepreneurship skills to help them manage their own businesses.
Produhort Investments co-founder Mazaza Nyirenda, who delivered a motivational speech during the graduation, challenged graduates to go out and get dirty in the field if they are to succeed in agriculture.
Mwimba College is located in Kasungu District in Malawi.
The college was opened in 2001 as a training arm of Aret.
From its early focus on provision of on-farm training to tobacco farmers and their children, the college is now open to all those aiming to pursue a career in agriculture or venture into agricultural business.
