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Mzimba farmers receive tractors

Development Fund of Norway, through Mzuzu-based Find Your Feet (FYF) organisation, has launched the Small-scale Farm Mechanisation Pilot Project in Mzimba to transform and improve the agricultural sector.

For a start, the project has supported six farmers with a two-wheeled tractor each and accessories such as a trailer and a planter valued at K14.9 million.

A farmer explains how the tractor works

Speaking on Thursday after launching the project, Development Fund of Norway country representative Victor Katchika-Jere said the project is part of his institution’s agenda to transform the agricultural sector in the country.

“In Malawi, 95 percent of farmers depend on the hand-hoe. And our agriculture cannot move to the next level if we still use the hand-hoe. That is why we introduced the two-wheeled tractors to help farmers so that we fulfil our agenda.

“Tractors will help farmers save labour and time as field operations are done by relatively fewer members. For example, for one-hectare, these tractors work for 30 minutes, but for a hand-hoe, farmers need weeks,” he said.

FYF executive director Chimwemwe Soko said the country’s economy can improve if smallholder farmers embrace farm mechanisation.

“If we depend on the hoe we may not attain the adequate nutrition and food security. This project will help farmers increase hectarage,” he said.

Mzuzu Agriculture Development Division acting deputy programme manager Thomas Chigowo said the tractors can be used for ploughing, ridging, harrowing, planting, fertliser application and transportation of farm produce. 

“Farmers stand to benefit a lot because this will help them have time to do other things in their households,” he said. n

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