Malawi is projected to register an increase in production of non-traditional crops this year.
According to the recently released first round crop estimates report, crops such as wheat and sesame are expected to register improved production.
The development comes as economists and agriculturists continue pressing for diversification of what Malawi considers as its main cash crops.
It is projected that wheat production is to grow by 94.7 % from 190 metric tons to 370 metric tons while sesame is projected at 56.1% from 9 686 metric tons to 15,123 metric tons.
Agriculture expert Tamani Nkhono Mvula attributes the trend to a growing interest from some major commercial farmers.
“…for the past three years there has been a huge demand for sesame and I believe such kind of demand could have contributed to the interest,” Tamani Nkhono said.
He cited the large scale commercial farming of wheat by the Malawi Defence Force and Pyxus Limited through Mega farms as some of the contributing factors.
For a long time, Malawi has been importing the two crops and their by-products, draining the forex pot even further.
Though grown on a small scale locally and imported highly, wheat flour plays a vital role in the economy as it is used in producing bread and other confectionaries.
