Former minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Kondwani Nankhumwa on Friday presided over the inauguration of Blantyre Agriculture Development Division (ADD) Field Days held in Traditional Authority (T/A) Nthiramanja in Mulanje District.
He said field days are crucial as they provide a platform where farmers learn and adopt new farming technologies.
Said Nankhumwa: “The agriculture sector is facing several challenges due to climate change such as flooding, prolonged dry spells and emergence of new pests and diseases.
“So, we encourage farmers to adopt climate-smart agriculture and the growing of drought resistant crops.”
Mulanje District Council chairperson Isaac Blazio said many banana farmers were hopeless as the banana bunchy top disease took away their source of income.
He commended the ministry’s efforts in fighting the disease to revamp the industry, saying some farmers have already started generating income from the new banana plants.
“Let me also thank extension workers for working tirelessly to disseminate information and sensitising banana farmers on how to deal with the disease,” Blazio said.
T/A Nthiramanja said farmers in his area have skills and knowledge to feed and support their households through crop and livestock farming.
He asked government to help farmers form cooperatives to enable them sell their produce in bulk at a good price.
