Institute sensitises Karonga farmers to herbicides

African Institute of Corporate Citizenship (Aicc) says rice farmers in Karonga have the potential to enhance production if they adopt the use of herbicides to control weeds in their fields.

During a field visit to Mphinga Irrigation Scheme in the district on Friday, the institute’s project manager responsible for rice Leonard Chimwaza said farmers have the potential to maximise rice production but they fail because of costs incurred during weeding.

He said his organisation partnered  Farmers Organisation Limited (FOL) to supply herbicides that kill weeds in rice fields, thereby reducing production costs.

“Rice is one of the strategic crops in the country, and we appreciate the huge costs that farmers incur during production which in the end affect their profitability margin. That is why we came up with this initiative,” said Chimwaza

FOL business manager Sangani Harawa encouraged more farmers to adopt and use chemicals and herbicides certified by Malawi Government.

Mphinga Irrigation Scheme secretary Chimzuzu Gondwe thanked Aicc and FOL for introducing rice herbicides, saying farmers were spending a lot of money on weeding which in the end affected their profits.

Mphinga Irrigation Scheme has 405 hectares with about 649 farmers.n