By George Mkandawire
The Ministry of Industrialisation, Business, Trade and Tourism says it is working to link producers of root and tuber crops to local, regional and international markets to boost commercialisation and value addition.
Director responsible for Value Addition in the Ministry, Thomas Mhango, said farmers often struggle to access markets due to failure to meet required product standards and specifications.
He said the Ministry, in collaboration with the Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (MITC), is linking farmers with potential off-takers while exploring export opportunities through SADC, COMESA and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He said adding value to crops such as cassava, potatoes and sweet potatoes will enable farmers to earn higher returns while diversifying Malawi’s food base beyond maize.
Mhango said the initiative is also important as El Niño forecasts continue to raise concerns about rainfall variability and food availability in the coming seasons, adding that promoting drought-tolerant root and tuber crops can help strengthen household and national food security.
Meanwhile, International Potato Centre (CIP) Programmes Manager, Felistus Chipungu, has urged farmers to increase production of root and tuber crops in the current farming season, saying crops such as cassava and sweet potatoes are more resilient to prolonged dry spells.
She said a CIP project, funded by the Embassy of Ireland to the tune of 8 million Euros, is supporting the development and commercialisation of root and tuber value chains in 16 districts, targeting 60,000 beneficiaries over four years.
