By Brenda Kayo:
The government’s Mega Farms Support Unit has called for increased macadamia production as the crop is said to have potential to complement tobacco and other crops as main forex earners.
Team Leader at the Ministry of Agriculture Mega Farms Support Unit Yakosa Tegha made the call on Tuesday when Ireland Ambassador Seamus O’grady and United States Agency for International Development (USAid) acting Deputy Mission Director Jill Jupiter Jones toured one of the farms in Namitete, Lilongwe.
Tegha said promoting production of high-value crops like macadamia will help to address the challenge of foreign exchange shortage in the country.
“By promoting the production of high-value exports crops like macadamia and chilies, these projects will help address the challenge of foreign exchange shortages which is a significant issue facing our economy.
“The project will generate employment opportunities for women and youth in rural areas, thereby reducing pressure on natural resources and mitigating the issue of urban migration,” Tegha said.
On her part, O’grady emphasised the need for smallholder farmers to integrate into macadamia value chains.
“This is an opportunity for smallholder households to rise above subsistence production and engage in production agriculture.
“By enabling smallholder farmers to participate in production of high-export-value crops like macadamia, the project will help ensure more income for smallholder farmers and increase exports for the country,” O’grady said.
Jones said USAid is committed to supporting the macadamia sector in Malawi.
“Through our Growth poles project, USAid will support smallholder farmers who would not have been able to afford the cost of entry into this lucrative market with macadamia seedlings cultivated specifically for the conditions here in Malawi.
“Gala Macs, an emerging leader in macadamia production, is creating macadamia farming opportunities for local communities and will offer smallholder farmers agronomic training and extension services,” Jones said.
Malawi is ranked seventh on the list of macadamia producers in the world. It is projected to rank number five in 2025 if more smallholder farmers go for it.
