NGOs, agriculture experts bang heads on food security

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and agriculture experts in Karonga on Friday discussed how the district can attain food security.

Speaking during a stakeholders meeting organised by Foundation for Community Services (Focus), Karonga District director of agriculture, environment and natural resources Raphael Mkisi told a United States-based NGO, Rise Against Hunger (RAH) that women are most burdened with farming activities while use of manual farming technologies forces youths to shun farming.

He said: “Agriculture sector in the district faces a number of challenges, ranging from lack of markets and fixed prices for their produce such as cotton and rice to climate change-related disasters.

“Lack of expertise in value addition and machinery is also a challenge.”

RAH livelihoods and food security specialist Bryan Pride said they were on a fact-finding mission in the district to appreciate challenges farmers face.

“With local agriculture experts, we will map the way forward to turn around farming. We will help farmers on value addition and open up opportunities for international markets,” he said.

Focus project manager Jones Sichali said their efforts to mitigate hunger through smart agriculture in the district are bearing fruits.

RAH through Focus is implementing a three-year harvesting prosperity and resilience project in Karonga to the tune of K100 million.