The Centre for Agricultural Transformation (CAT) says Smallholder farmers can achieve bumper yields if they diversify food chains and use new technologies in crop and post-harvest management.
Macleod Nkhoma, CAT’s Executive Director, made the remarks in Kasungu during a smallholder farmer boot camp of 70 farmers whose aim was to provide practical knowledge to farmers on crop and post-harvest management, financial literacy and market access.
Nkhoma added that through collective trade and bargaining, farmers can diversify their food chain and obtain new technologies which is crucial in transforming the agricultural sector.
Riz Khan, Programme Manager of Foundation for a Smoke-Free World Agricultural Transformation Initiative (ATI), which also sponsors CAT initiatives expressed hope that the farmers will gain valuable skills and knowledge to utilise modern technologies and collaborate with their partners in agricultural commercialisation.
CAT is a science, business and technology incubation hub that brings together farmers, researchers and businesses to transform Malawian agriculture systems and livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
By Annette Kampango.
