DF Norway to continue funding agriculture

Development Fund of Norway (DF) board chairperson has expressed optimism that the non-governmental organisation will continue to fund Malawian famers to entrench the lead farmer concept.

Aase Lomo said this on Monday in Saulos Tembo Village in Mzimba when she, together with Mzuzu Agricultural Development Division deputy programme manager Agnes Moyo and DF regional manager for Malawi and Zambia Knut Andersen, visited some lead farmers in the area.

DF is promoting sustainable agriculture using low cost and environmental-friendly technologies through farmer-to-farmer extension.

The lead farmer concept identifies a farmer from whom other farmers learn modern farming techniques to boost harvest through sustainable agriculture.

Moyo said government is now able to reach out to more farmers through the lead farmer concept.

“Currently, one extension worker is responsible for up to between 1 500 and 2 000 farmers. So, the lead farmers help us to reach out to more farmers with new farming techniques,” Moyo said.

DF Norway has been funding the lead farmer concept to a tune of $1.5 million (about K375 million) a year since 2004.