Mzimba Heritage to revive M’mbelwa Farm Institute

M’mbelwa Chiefs Council has embarked on a cattle production project expected to revive the M’mbelwa Farm Institute in Mzimba District.

The project, which is being facilitated by the Mzimba Heritage Association, targets 900 farmers.

About 100 heifers and four bulls from South Africa have already been identified for the project, according to the association.

Mzimba Heritage Association secretary Aupson Thole said the project seeks to fight poverty and hunger in the district.

“Farmers will be given cattle on loan and they will be bringing offshoots to the institute for beef production.We have technical advisers from Zimbabwe who will train farmers on how to take care of the animals,” he said.

Thole said they will also revive Mbawa, Mjinge, Phazi and Nthungwa cattle ranches. But he said M’mbelwa Farm Institute will be the centre of all activities where farmers will be subjected to various training.

Mzimba district commissioner (DC)Thomas Chirwa said the project will help to boost the economy.

M’mbelwa Farm Institute, which opened in 1953, was vibrant during the time of the country’s founding president Hastings Kamuzu Banda.

IHowever, it has been idle since 1993 when the country became a multiparty democracy. n