Japan has pledged to support the adoption of modern agriculture technologies among smallholder farmers in Malawi to improve food and income security.
Youichi Oya, Japanese Ambassador to Malawi, made the remarks in Kasungu during the handover ceremony of agricultural inputs and solar pumps to smallholder farmers of Chamama and Mkanakhoti Extension Planning Areas.
Oya said the support seeks to help mitigate the food and nutrition crisis among smallholder farmers, who have been adversely affected by the El Niño weather conditions.
Agriculture Ministry’s Controller of Agriculture and Extension Services, Alfred Mwenefumbo, was optimistic that Malawi can increase food production once farmers adopt the modern irrigation technologies.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), with funding from the Japanese government, is implementing a one-year project to support smallholder farmers with technical knowledge transfer in Kasungu and Mzimba districts.
