Malawi Sets Pace in Crop Production
[2008-7-22]
Tag : pulses and seeds
African countries, especially Namibia, can draw lessons fromMalawi, which despite being one of the poorest countries on thecontinent is amongst the rare shining examples that do not rely oncostly food imports to feed its population and in actual factexports food.
Malawi, a former British colony and independent since 1964, pridesitself as the "Warm Heart of Africa". It has recordedphenomenal growth in food production surpluses since 2004, at atime when many other African countries are struggling given thevolatile global economy that is being compounded by high foodprices and escalating fuel.
Thanks largely to an ambitious agricultural programme, introducedby President Bingu Wa Mutharika known as Target Inputs Programme(TIP), Malawi produces enough food.
This programme began in 2000.
In terms of the programme, farmers were given a 50 kg packagecontaining 10 kg urea, 10 kg fertilizers, maize seed and beans.
In 2004, the programme was reviewed and Government introduced afertilizer subsidy programme (FSP).
In this initiative, a farmer buys a 50 kg bag of fertilizer at 910Malawi Kwacha equivalent to $6.5 and 3,500 Malawi Kwacha equivalentto N$175, with the aim to produce food for his/her householdconsumption.
Any surplus a farmer can sell to the State for export duties whileat the same time farmers are encouraged to produce more and havereadily available cash for other supplements.
Traditionally, Malawi has been self-sufficient in its staple foodmaize and during the 1980s exported substantial quantities to itsdrought-stricken neighbours.
Agriculture represents 38.6% of the GDP and counts for over 80% ofthe labour force, and represents about 80% of all exports.
Nearly 90% of the population engages in subsistence farming.
African countries, especially Namibia, can draw lessons fromMalawi, which despite being one of the poorest countries on thecontinent is amongst the rare shining examples that do not rely oncostly food imports to feed its population and in actual factexports food.
Malawi, a former British colony and independent since 1964, pridesitself as the "Warm Heart of Africa". It has recordedphenomenal growth in food production surpluses since 2004, at atime when many other African countries are struggling given thevolatile global economy that is being compounded by high foodprices and escalating fuel.
Thanks largely to an ambitious agricultural programme, introducedby President Bingu Wa Mutharika known as Target Inputs Programme(TIP), Malawi produces enough food.
This programme began in 2000.
In terms of the programme, farmers were given a 50 kg packagecontaining 10 kg urea, 10 kg fertilizers, maize seed and beans.
In 2004, the programme was reviewed and Government introduced afertilizer subsidy programme (FSP).
In this initiative, a farmer buys a 50 kg bag of fertilizer at 910Malawi Kwacha equivalent to $6.5 and 3,500 Malawi Kwacha equivalentto N$175, with the aim to produce food for his/her householdconsumption.
Any surplus a farmer can sell to the State for export duties whileat the same time farmers are encouraged to produce more and havereadily available cash for other supplements.
Traditionally, Malawi has been self-sufficient in its staple foodmaize and during the 1980s exported substantial quantities to itsdrought-stricken neighbours.
Agriculture represents 38.6% of the GDP and counts for over 80% ofthe labour force, and represents about 80% of all exports.
Nearly 90% of the population engages in subsistence farming.
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