IRISH AMBASSADOR TIPS MW ON CLIMATE SMART AGRI

The national symposium on agro-ecology in Lilongwe on Friday organised by Trocaire, the Irish Ambassador to Malawi, Gery Cunningham has said Malawi needs to triple its investment in climate smart agriculture if it is to achieve a meaningful and sustainable economic growth.

In January this year, Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA) Malawi advised farmers in Mulanje District to practice climate smart agriculture, following the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services forecast that there would be heavy rains in some parts of the district and prolonged dry spells in other parts during this rainy season. ADRA has also been encouraging farmers to undertake climate smart agriculture, following unpredictable weather patterns in Malawi.

On the other hand, a grouping of selected small-scale horticulture farmers, is experimenting with drip irrigation technology as a measure to build resilience to climate change while boosting production. The grouping, known as In Mndolera Extension Planning Area (EPA) is testing the initiative as introduced by The African Institute for Corporate Citizenship (AICC). AICC introduced the approach, in partnership with Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) under Commercial Agribusiness for Sustainable Horticulture (Cash) Project. The initiative boost production and productivity to a level where some of the profits can be re-invested for further growth.

The climate smart strategy can benefit large scale farmers, whose businesses suffer due to adverse weather conditions as Malawi has recorded destruction of maize fields due to floods  in 2018.