The Banana Growers Association of Malawi says it wants to prioritise on mega farm initiatives to help minimise the productivity challenges that farmers are facing in the country.
The development comes barely two years after President Lazarus Chakwera ordered the Ministry of Agriculture in 2022 to set up Mega farms across the country as a way of promoting food security and exports.
The association’s President Dr Lemet Makombe told ProjectM that banana farming remains a staple food and cash crop in the country that offers opportunities for Malawians, especially young entrepreneurs to create thriving businesses within the crop value chain.
Aged 26, Makombe shares his vision, saying by setting up Banana Mega farms across the country, it will help farmers to contribute to the country’s economy.
The Thyolo-based entrepreneur added that: “Currently, Malawi does not have enough bananas to export to other countries because the crop was once wiped out by a viral bunchy disease in 2016. We want to have Banana Mega farms in the country where domestic and international traders would come and buy from us and this will significantly improve export earnings, food security and nutrition, including poverty reduction, among others.”
Makombe also reminded members of the association to take advantage of the growing demand for sustainable products in the global market by growing popular banana varieties with high nutritional value, high market prices and well treated with chemicals against pests and diseases such as Kabuthu, Grand naine, Sweet williams to say the list.
On value addition, the President added that through the association farmers are being drilled on how to process raw products to a more valuable state.
Makombe said people are able to make banana yoghurts and chips just to mention a few.
One of the members of the association Mika Saka from Mzuzu welcomed the idea, describing it as a significant shift in business environment.
Saka says through banana mega farms it will help in the creation of job opportunities and generate income to farmers in the entrepreneurship landscape.
Banana Growers Association of Malawi has 202 members across the country and was established in 2022.
