By Mercy Matonga:
National Smallholder Farmers Association of Malawi (Nasfam) Deputy Chief Executive Officer Richard Petautchere has said the organisation is facing challenges in exporting products to international markets.
Petautchere made the remarks Tuesday during a visit to Nasfam by Deputy Minister of Agriculture Thoko Tembo and the Norwegian Ambassador for Development Cooperation, Anne Sofie Bjelland.
He said although Nasfam has grown since its establishment, export volumes remain low due to limited production capacity, foreign exchange challenges and quality issues that affect some produce.
“Currently, we only have two international markets and exports to foreign markets have not grown in large quantities. We are constrained by forex challenges and, in some cases, our produce is affected by aflatoxin,” Petautchere said.
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He further acknowledged Norway’s support to Nasfam, which has helped the institution acquire a processing mill for the production of cream of maize.
In his remarks, Tembo said the government was working on policy measures aimed at strengthening Malawi’s agricultural exports and improving returns for farmers.
“We are looking at policies that will ensure that our crops are competitive on the international market and that farmers benefit more from their hard work,” Tembo said.
He also said Malawi’s relations with development partners such as Norway continued to play a key role in promoting economic growth, including trade.
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A recent significant example of this commitment is the government of Norway’s approval of K55.7 billion in new financing to strengthen Malawi’s health system and advance food security in the face of economic pressures, climate shocks and rising humanitarian needs.
Norwegian Ambassador to Malawi Anne Sofie Bjelland welcomed the progress being made in the agriculture sector, noting its impact on women’s livelihoods.
“It is encouraging to see development initiatives in Malawi improving the lives of women, especially considering that the majority of farmers are women,” Bjelland said.
Nasfam is the largest smallholder-owned membership organisation in Malawi. It was founded in 1995 to empower farmers through commercialisation, business capacity building and policy advocacy.
