Solidaridad, a Netherlands-based organization, has launched a six-year Pathways to Prosperity Programme to support the government’s efforts in revitalising cotton production in Malawi.
Irene de Bruin, Head of the Pathways to Prosperity programme at Solidaridad Europe, announced the initiative at a field day on Open Pollinated Varieties (OPV) Cotton seed multiplication in Salima.
The programme will be done in collaboration with local players in the cotton industry, including the Cotton Council of Malawi and Kvuno-Solidaridad’s social enterprise, to promote seed multiplication and sustainable production practices.
De Bruin highlighted the programme’s focus on improving production stages and market access, aiming to enhance farmers’ profitability.
“The programme is based on the idea that we have several pathways to walk towards prosperity and one of them is to directly work with farmers and producer groups to improve production stages and the other one is working with service providers in seed multiplication and then trying to improve market access. This can surely help farmers to position themselves better in the production process for improved profitability,” said de Bruin.
Welcoming the development, Senior Chief Kalonga said lack of access to affordable certified cotton seeds is a major obstacle for farmers in the area.
Deputy Director for Crop Development in the Ministry of Agriculture, Martin Gausi, hailed the programme for engaging smallholder farmers in seed multiplication and strengthening market linkages, which will empower grassroots economic development.
Under Solidaridad Southern Africa, the cotton seed multiplication initiative aims to produce 400 tonnes of seed for farmers in the forthcoming growing season.
Currently, farmers purchase imported hybrid seeds from India at K58,000 per kilogramme.
The multiplied OPV seed is expected to be sold at K20,000 per kilogramme, offering hope for the revival of Malawi’s fourth-largest foreign exchange earner.
