Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) is optimistic that it can help local farmers export more commodities, especially Sesame, by aligning with international standards.
The Bureau’s laboratory staff is undergoing training by South African experts in Blantyre, which will also equip them with skills in food testing, which is vital for accreditation at an international level.
MBS Deputy Director General, Thomas Senganimalunje, said over the years, most of the Sesame exported to Japan was sent back due to non-compliance with international standards.
Deputy Country Director of the World Food Programme, Simon Denhere, said there is a huge market for the crop in Japan, which Malawi has not been able to satisfy.
The training comes courtesy of a Memorandum of Understanding that MBS signed with the World Food Programme and the Japanese Government earlier this year.
Sesame, commonly known as Chitowe in vernacular, is grown in some parts of the country, including Chikwawa and Nsanje districts.
The international market requires 200,000 metric tonnes of sesame from Malawi, but production levels are still minimal, with Malawi producing 6,000 metric tonnes in 2022 and 11,000 metric tonnes in 2023.
By Evelece Ching’ambe
