National Association of Smallholder Farmers (NASFAM) has emphasised the importance of increased youth involvement in agriculture to drive socio-economic development of the country.
NASFAM’s Innovation Productivity Centre Manager for the Balaka-Ntcheu Office, Precious Matemba, said that the organisation recognises the potential of young people to transform the country’s economy and is therefore committed to empowering youth in agri-business ventures nationwide.
One of the beneficiaries of NASFAM’s initiatives is Braize Daniel Munjeluwa from Traditional Authority Liwonde in Machinga.
Munjeluwa, who engages in both crop production and livestock rearing, said that since becoming a lead farmer in 2008, his quality of life has improved significantly, to the point where he no longer needs to seek employment from others.
“I built this house, bought the motorbike you see here, and now own seven goats, 29 chickens, and 36 guinea fowls. All of this has been made possible thanks to NASFAM, which trained us to view farming as a business,” said Munjeluwa.
He aspires to become a seed supplier in Machinga.
Munjeluwa is one of 6,000 farmers from Balaka, Ntcheu, Machinga, and Mangochi who are benefiting from the various NASFAM initiatives.
