The Agricultural Commercialisation (AGCOM) has appealed to farmers in the country to invest in research and value addition in a bid to realise more profits from farming.
The appeal comes as the entity is in the process of receiving concepts from farming groups looking for funding opportunities.
AGCOM country director Dr Ted Nankhumwa has underlined the need for farming groups to embrace innovation and value addition in a quest to compete in what he has described as a competitive farming industry.
Dr Nankhumwa said AGCOM is ready to fund organisations that are ready to work towards improving the country’s agricultural sector.
“So, as AGCOM we are indeed in the process of receiving proposals mainly from farming groups such as cooperatives that are ready to go an extra mile in their farming activities,” he said.
He said producer organisation or farmer groups and its off-takers must submit a joint concept note as a productive alliance explaining how they will work together in expanding their farming activities.
“So, this activity, which falls under window 2 concept submission under AGCOM, is there to push cooperatives to venture into something profitable because for a long time, our cooperatives have only been selling raw materials which is a loss,” said Dr Nankhumwa.
He said AGCOM hopes to empower the country’s farmers into value-addition and production.
Lilongwe-based farmer, Maggie Zaindi who owns MAZAHO farms located at Mpingu, has welcomed the challenge, saying she is ready to work with her colleagues in submitting a winning concept.
“And I am not only focusing on submitting a winning concept note but rather implementing it if our concept receives greenlight,” said Zaindi.
Groups hoping to submit a concept note are being advised to follow advice posted on www.agcom.gov.mw.
