ECAMA urged to spearhead agriculture transformation

As the country’s economists assemble in Mangochi later this month for this year’s Economics Association of Malawi (Ecama) annual conference, Oxfam and AHL Group have challenged Ecama to come up with strategies to spearhead agriculture transformation.

Both Oxfam and AHL Group were speaking separately after making donations to Ecama ahead of the conference to be opened by President Peter Mutharika.

Oxfam country director Alex Makina urged the conference to come up with mechanisms that will help rural farmers to easily access markets and government to revamp State produce trader Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) and empower women in the sector, among others.

“People are discussing about of Admarc of today and that of yesterday. We need to learn why people are saying the old Admarc is better,” added Makina.

Ecama executive director Edward Chilima said he was optimistic the conference’s resolutions will leave an imprint on the national efforts to finally turn the corner in the agriculture sector.

Oxfam and AHL donated K1 million and K600 000 respectively towards the conference.n