President Lazarus Chakwera has said, given support, Malawian farmers can transform the landscape of the country’s agriculture.

He was speaking at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe Friday when Mdapepuka Farmers Cooperative donated 12 metric tonnes of maize to government.

Utilising the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP), the cooperative produced 106.5 metric tonnes of maize and minus the donation to government, it has 94.5 metric tonnes left.

“It is encouraging to me that this gift is the result of the Affordable Inputs Programme which millions of farmers have benefitted from. By the success that this cooperative has registered, I am given fresh courage to ensure that the AIP continues and succeeds again this year,” Chakwera said.

Chakwera urged farmers in the country to get into cooperatives to have access to agricultural financing and extension services and to identify output markets, among others.

Minister of Agriculture Lobin Lowe said Mdapepuka Farmers Cooperative represents one of the success stories of AIP.

The cooperative started as an association in 2015 with 62 members and was registered as a cooperative in 2021.

Source: https://times.mw/lazarus-chakwera-finds-affordable-inputs-programme-hope-in-farmers