USaid to inject K2 billion towards farming
USaid is injecting K2 billion (about $5.6 million) for the next five years to promote farming technologies for smallholder farmers in Malawi.
The funding is through the ‘Research in Sustainable Intensification of Farming Systems for the Next Generation’ dubbed Africa Rising.
The initiative is investing K18 billion (about $50 million) in five African countries including Malawi.
“The project is aimed at introducing new farming technologies towards increased uptake of agriculture by smallholder farmers through tried research,” said USaid senior research adviser Jerry Glover.
He said the initiative is vital and needs the commitment of all stakeholders to ensure successful implementation.
“Sustainable intensification of mixed crops is key pathway to food security, improved livelihood and a health environment,” he said.
Michigan State University (MSU), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (Iita), the International centre for Tropical Agriculture are also initiating the project.
Dedza and Ntcheu districts are the other implementing partners in the project.
The technologies included cereal legume rotation and inter-cropping, conservation agriculture, fertiliser recommendations, agro forestry, and combining organic and inorganic fertilisers, among others.
Dr. Regis Chikowo, who is supervising the project in Malawi said products research have remained untapped by smallholder farmers hence the introduction of the project.
