The Head of Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU), Dr Janet Banda, says solar energy remains a solution which can transform the agricultural sector through solar powered irrigation in Malawi.
Banda who is also the Deputy Secretary to the President and Cabinet says affordability, sustainability and usability are affecting maximisation of productivity under solar irrigation.
This was revealed during an Agriculture lab organised by PDU which aims at finding solutions to the challenges affecting the agricultural sector.
Minister of Energy, Ibrahim Matola said government has put in place several strategies to address challenges observed in the sector including introduction of agriculture tariff and removal of taxes on solar equipment.
Data collected by PDU indicate that Malawi has 2000 hectares of land under cultivation using solar power which can produce 8000 metric tonnes of maize, however, they only 1200 hectares is utilised.
