Ministry of Agriculture has launched the country’s Rice Development Strategy II, which seeks to double rice output from 147,000 tonnes to 330,000 tonnes by 2030.
Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale has urged those in the rice value chain to increase productivity from the current 1,500 Kilogrammes to 10,000 Kilogrammes per hectare.
The country’s productivity at 1,500 Kilogrammes is the lowest against Africa’s average of 4,500 Kilogrammes per hectare, as well as China which produces 20,000 kilograms per hectare.
Japanese International Cooperation Agency Chief of Party, Kazuhiro Tambara, has pledged to continue supporting Malawi’s drive to increase production.
Tambara said rice is critical for boosting the country’s exports hence the need to support and improve output.
JICA through the Coalition of African Rice Development, CARD, plans to support Africa’s rice output from 28 million tonnes to 56 million tonnes annually by 2030.
By Trust Ofesi
