Circle for Integrated Community Development (CICOD) in partnership with Oxfam and the Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM), continues to champion empowerment of women and the youth in agricultural marketing and production.
The initiative aims to provide access to profitable and inclusive markets for smallholder farmers in Kasungu.
Edward Thole, CICOD Programmes Manager, highlighted that despite women and youth comprising 80% of smallholder farmers in Malawi, they face significant challenges in marketing their produce.
Speaking during a media tour, Thole emphasised the project’s success in creating market linkages between women farmers and companies, allowing them to sell their produce at profitable prices.
Ethel Chilembwe, Chairperson of Kakonje Cooperative under Chulu EPA, said women could excel in agriculture if trained in marketing.
The consortium of CICOD, CADECOM, and Oxfam is equipping farmers with essential marketing and leadership skills.
Chilembwe’s cooperative, for instance, has secured agreements to sell groundnuts.
Chikumbutso Liwonde, Chief Agriculture Officer for Kasungu district, remarked that the project aligns with the government’s effort to ensure women and youths participation in agricultural activities.
