The Norwegian Government through the Royal Norwegian Embassy has granted K7.5 billion Kwacha (NOK 41 million) funding to Norwegian Church Aid and DanChurchAid (NCA-DCA) to roll out a commercialized agriculture project in Malawi.
The project will be implemented in the districts of Mzimba,Kasungu and Mchinji and is set to transform the lives of 21,000 smallholder farmers, turning them from subsistence producers into market-oriented entrepreneurs.
The project, Tisangalale ndi Chuma, popularly known as Tisangalale, which means Transforming Last-mile Farmers in Agriculture for Economic Growth, builds on the achievements of the recently concluded TRANSFORM Programme.
The funding agreement was signed by Norwegian Ambassador Anne Sofie Bjelland and NCA-DCA Country Director Stefan Jansen.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, NCA-DCA Country Director Stefan Jansen described the agreement as a significant milestone for both NCA-DCA and Malawi, especially as it is the last contract signed by the Norwegian Embassy before it winds up its operations in Malawi in July 2027.
“We are not taking this for granted. We know that you are only signing two agreements this year, and we were lucky enough to be the last contract being signed after so many years of meaningful development aid in Malawi. It is an honour for us and we will do our level best to make full use of this agreement,” he said.
Jansen said the project reflects NCA-DCA’s growing focus on agricultural commercialisation and wealth creation, adding that the private sector is critical to creating sustainable economic opportunities for farmers. He noted that the programme will build on the organisation’s experience working with off-takers such as Kwithu Kitchen, Thanthwe Farms and Kwanza to provide reliable market opportunities.
Norwegian Ambassador to Malawi Anne Sofie Bjelland described their partnership as vital for the benefit of common Malawians.
Running for 20 months, the initiative will be implemented in Kasungu, Mchinji and Mzimba through the Trustees of Agricultural Promotion Programme (TAPP), Total Land Care and Find Your Feet.
This will focus on soya bean, groundnut and bean value chains while strengthening 125 farmer organisations to operate as aggregation and supply businesses linked to structured markets.
Unlike traditional agricultural interventions focused mainly on production, Tisangalale places commercialisation at the centre of its strategy by strengthening production, aggregation, financing and market linkages, with the private sector playing a key role in connecting farmers to profitable markets.
The project seeks to address a major challenge in Malawi’s agriculture sector, where agro-processors often operate below capacity due to inconsistent supply from smallholder farmers and weak aggregation systems.
Farmers will be supported to produce for markets, meet quality standards and fulfil supply contracts.
The initiative aligns with Malawi Vision 2063, which identifies agricultural productivity and commercialisation as a key driver of economic transformation.
Speaking at the recent 22nd National Agriculture Fair, Minister of Agriculture Rosa Mbilizi emphasised the need for Malawi to move beyond simply increasing production and focus on creating value and higher incomes.
Despite agriculture receiving more than 10 percent of the national budget, the World Bank cites low productivity, weak value chains and limited private-sector investment as constraints to growth.
By linking 21,000 farmers to structured markets and strengthening 125 farmer organisations as viable agribusiness entities, Tisangalale is expected to contribute to wealth creation, agro-processing and economic growth.
More importantly, the donation directly supports Sustainable Development Goal 2 about Zero Hunger.
By helping farmers produce more, earn more and access reliable markets, the project will improve household food security, nutrition and incomes, ensuring that farming families are not just growing food, but growing out of hunger and poverty.
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