Donors push for review in agriculture policies

Malawi’s donors have called for the review of policies guiding the agriculture sector if the nation is to reinvigorate the industry.

Speaking in Blantyre on the sidelines of this year’s national agriculture fair, United States ambassador to Malawi, Virginia Palmer, called for the finalisation and enactment of the seed bill, control of goods market bill and fertilizer bill to ensure that Malawi has good quality seeds, easy access to international markets and that fertilizer prizes are affordable.

Malawi made commitments under the new alliance for food security and nutritional security that it will bring private sector investment and development partner investment into the agriculture sector.

However, according to Palmer, despite making remarkable progress in achieving a couple of things it committed to, it is very important that it revitalises the agriculture market through the finalisation of the three acts.

“Malawi now has the agriculture policy and new irrigation policy. However, there is need to be more transparent and more predictable, especially on export restrictions. This is very important in order to stimulate commercial investments and small holder investment.”

Palmer further said the absence of the seed act has made it difficult for Malawi to make new seed varieties on the market as such farmers have continued to use old varieties of seeds which are not draught and pest resistant.

The US ambassador said the fertiliser act will benefit farmers in such a way that it will make fertiliser cheaper and available.

On the farm input subsidy, the US ambassador said it will be more productive if government target the productive farmers. She urged government to continue with reforms it instituted which among others is to bring the private sector in “this is because we found that the private sector can provide the fertilizer more efficiently than government and then that will allow government to use the ministry of agriculture resources for extension workers and other programmes that are essential to agriculture success.”

European Union (EU) ambassador Marchel Gerrmann concurred with Palmer on the need for the country’s private sector to invest in agriculture.

“We hope that Parliament will be able to pass the three bills soon to see to it that the private sector contributes greatly to agriculture development,” he said.

Commenting on the matter, Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Joseph Mwanamvekha said government was working on finalising the bills as it realises that they will help to improve service delivery and develop the sector.

Mwanamvekha also requested President Peter Mutharika to declare one day in a year a national farmer’s day. This he said will be in recognition of various contributions by farmers towards national development.

“The day which will not necessarily be a holiday will give farmers a chance to interact, share experience and celebrate,” he said.

In response, Mutharika said he has taken note of the request and it will be discussed at cabinet level.