MALAWI: Parliamentary Aspirants’ pledges to ensure market access to small holder farmers
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| A section of the aspirants during the meeting |
Over 40
Parliamentary Aspirants from Lilongwe district have committed to ensuring
agricultural markets for small holders farmers when elected as Members of
Parliament during May 20’s Tripartite election.
Parliamentary Aspirants from Lilongwe district have committed to ensuring
agricultural markets for small holders farmers when elected as Members of
Parliament during May 20’s Tripartite election.
The
Parliamentarians mainly drawn from Malawi’s four major Political parties namely
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), United Democratic Front (UDF), Malawi
Congress Party (MCP) and People’s Party (PP) pleaded to improve the wellbeing
of the farmers during the launch of Access to Agriculture Markets Campaign in
Lilongwe, Wednesday.
Parliamentarians mainly drawn from Malawi’s four major Political parties namely
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), United Democratic Front (UDF), Malawi
Congress Party (MCP) and People’s Party (PP) pleaded to improve the wellbeing
of the farmers during the launch of Access to Agriculture Markets Campaign in
Lilongwe, Wednesday.
The Catholic
Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM), a development arm of the Episcopal
Conference of Malawi (ECM) is spearheading the initiative with funding from
Oxfam in Malawi.
Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM), a development arm of the Episcopal
Conference of Malawi (ECM) is spearheading the initiative with funding from
Oxfam in Malawi.
During the
launch, the aspirants signed pledge forms as a commitment that once voted into
power as Members of Parliament, they will strive to make sure that there are
predictable, predetermined and focused markets for produce of small holder
farmers from their respective constituencies.
launch, the aspirants signed pledge forms as a commitment that once voted into
power as Members of Parliament, they will strive to make sure that there are
predictable, predetermined and focused markets for produce of small holder
farmers from their respective constituencies.
They also
signed by committing that they will ensure that the Agriculture Development and
Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) is timely funded so that it buys produce from
farmers and in such a way it prioritizes buying small holders’ produce from
hard to reach areas.
signed by committing that they will ensure that the Agriculture Development and
Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) is timely funded so that it buys produce from
farmers and in such a way it prioritizes buying small holders’ produce from
hard to reach areas.
The
commitment form also asked the aspiring Members of Parliament to make a pledge
on how much they will push that a comprehensive standalone agriculture
marketing policy is developed to guide formulation of produce buyer regulation
body and set standards and quality of produce.
commitment form also asked the aspiring Members of Parliament to make a pledge
on how much they will push that a comprehensive standalone agriculture
marketing policy is developed to guide formulation of produce buyer regulation
body and set standards and quality of produce.
The National
Secretary for CADECOM, Carsterns Mulume said the initiative is based on the
study findings that the Centre for Agricultural Research and Development (CARD)
of the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources conducted.
Secretary for CADECOM, Carsterns Mulume said the initiative is based on the
study findings that the Centre for Agricultural Research and Development (CARD)
of the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources conducted.
“This
is a campaign seeking political commitment from all the aspiring members of
parliament to support access to agricultural markets once voted into power. The
campaign has arisen out of the findings of the study report on
“Smallholder Farmers Access to Agricultural Markets in Malawi” which
highlighted challenges faced by small holder farmers to access markets,
“he said.
is a campaign seeking political commitment from all the aspiring members of
parliament to support access to agricultural markets once voted into power. The
campaign has arisen out of the findings of the study report on
“Smallholder Farmers Access to Agricultural Markets in Malawi” which
highlighted challenges faced by small holder farmers to access markets,
“he said.
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| National Secretary for CADECOM Mr. Carstern Mulume |
For her
part, Fedia Banda of Seza 3 Village in the area of Traditional Authority Njewa
in Lilongwe called on leaders and in this case politicians to make sure that
they establish ready markers for small holder farmers once voted into power on
May 20.
part, Fedia Banda of Seza 3 Village in the area of Traditional Authority Njewa
in Lilongwe called on leaders and in this case politicians to make sure that
they establish ready markers for small holder farmers once voted into power on
May 20.
Narrating
her story, Banda said her daughter who was selected to study at Natural
Resources College failed to do so due to lack of school fees despite having a
lot of produce she realized during the last year’s growing season.
her story, Banda said her daughter who was selected to study at Natural
Resources College failed to do so due to lack of school fees despite having a
lot of produce she realized during the last year’s growing season.
“I had
a lot of produce like Soya beans and groundnuts which I could have sold and
realize some money for my daughter’s school fees but failed because there was
no ready markets .My daughter is currently at home and this is the only reason
I am calling on our leaders gathered today to ensure that they do something
once voted as parliamentarians for our respective constituencies, “said a
42 year old Banda.
a lot of produce like Soya beans and groundnuts which I could have sold and
realize some money for my daughter’s school fees but failed because there was
no ready markets .My daughter is currently at home and this is the only reason
I am calling on our leaders gathered today to ensure that they do something
once voted as parliamentarians for our respective constituencies, “said a
42 year old Banda.
Adding her
voice, Layika Katenje, another woman farmer said learning from the tobacco
sector in the country; government could do the same by establishing ready
markets for value chain products such as groundnuts and beans.
voice, Layika Katenje, another woman farmer said learning from the tobacco
sector in the country; government could do the same by establishing ready
markets for value chain products such as groundnuts and beans.
“Tobacco
has ready markets where farmers take their produce for sale.
has ready markets where farmers take their produce for sale.
Tobacco
farmers know that they will take their produce to Auction
Floors.Infact,sometimes they know in advance the prices the commodities will
fetch, why not other crops like groundnuts, soya beans?”,Queried Katenje
while attracting an aloud of appraise from fellow farmers.
farmers know that they will take their produce to Auction
Floors.Infact,sometimes they know in advance the prices the commodities will
fetch, why not other crops like groundnuts, soya beans?”,Queried Katenje
while attracting an aloud of appraise from fellow farmers.
She then
pleaded with aspiring members of parliament at the event and even those who did
not attend to prioritize putting in place structures that will create
predictable and predetermined markets for smallholder farmers when they are
elected in the forth coming tripartite elections.
pleaded with aspiring members of parliament at the event and even those who did
not attend to prioritize putting in place structures that will create
predictable and predetermined markets for smallholder farmers when they are
elected in the forth coming tripartite elections.
“It’s
my hope that you won’t forget us once you become members of parliament as you seem
here to be on our side. The only problem I have noted so far is that you people
turn to forget us when you are on that seat, so please do what you have
promised us, “She said.
my hope that you won’t forget us once you become members of parliament as you seem
here to be on our side. The only problem I have noted so far is that you people
turn to forget us when you are on that seat, so please do what you have
promised us, “She said.
For his
part, Chairperson for Chitulula Area Development Committee
part, Chairperson for Chitulula Area Development Committee
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| Ms. Layika Katenje, Farmer |
(ADC) Adnan
Kholola observed that unscrupulous venders are taking advantage of lack of
proper systems and a functional ADMARC that would protect and promote small
scale farming since vendors are the sole buyers of farmers’ produce.
Kholola observed that unscrupulous venders are taking advantage of lack of
proper systems and a functional ADMARC that would protect and promote small
scale farming since vendors are the sole buyers of farmers’ produce.
He said they
(vendors) take advantage of this and later offer them low prices besides
tampering with their measuring scales.
(vendors) take advantage of this and later offer them low prices besides
tampering with their measuring scales.
He added
that previously farmers never had difficulties in accessing a good market
because ADMARC was readily available to buy produce from them.
that previously farmers never had difficulties in accessing a good market
because ADMARC was readily available to buy produce from them.
Kholola
however lamented that this is no longer the case because most ADMARC depots are
‘dead’ and cannot buy their commodities leaving the unscrupulous vendors as the
only resort for farmers.
however lamented that this is no longer the case because most ADMARC depots are
‘dead’ and cannot buy their commodities leaving the unscrupulous vendors as the
only resort for farmers.
“We
really need the ‘old ADMARC’ because in those days ADMARC was there for us all
the times. You politicians should help us by establishing profitable
markets,” he said.
really need the ‘old ADMARC’ because in those days ADMARC was there for us all
the times. You politicians should help us by establishing profitable
markets,” he said.
On his part,
Democratic Progressive Party aspiring Member of Parliament for Lilongwe City
South West constituency, Wells John Adams said his party acknowledges that
empowering small holder farmers, particularly women would also positively
contribute to the country’s economy.
Democratic Progressive Party aspiring Member of Parliament for Lilongwe City
South West constituency, Wells John Adams said his party acknowledges that
empowering small holder farmers, particularly women would also positively
contribute to the country’s economy.
“As you
might be aware that in DPP manifesto, the issue to do with food security is a
none starter and we are determined to promote agri-business for our small
holder farmers as a means of ending hunger and poverty. I must therefore assure
you that as a party we demonstrate our commitment to support this campaign,
“he said
might be aware that in DPP manifesto, the issue to do with food security is a
none starter and we are determined to promote agri-business for our small
holder farmers as a means of ending hunger and poverty. I must therefore assure
you that as a party we demonstrate our commitment to support this campaign,
“he said
Malawi
Congress Party Aspiring Member of Parliament for South West, Louis Chikhwantha
said the first action his party will take once voted into power will be to
change the way government operates and by giving a conducive platform for small
holder farmers to access markets for their produce.
Congress Party Aspiring Member of Parliament for South West, Louis Chikhwantha
said the first action his party will take once voted into power will be to
change the way government operates and by giving a conducive platform for small
holder farmers to access markets for their produce.
He said
ADMARC was functional during their days and that there is no reason for them to
fail runs it once voted into power come May 20.
ADMARC was functional during their days and that there is no reason for them to
fail runs it once voted into power come May 20.
“We in
the Malawi Congress Party and of course myself as a Member of Parliament will
make sure that ADMARC is funded timely and not just that but with enough
funding and resources that will enable them buy produce from our farmers,”
said Chikhwantha.
the Malawi Congress Party and of course myself as a Member of Parliament will
make sure that ADMARC is funded timely and not just that but with enough
funding and resources that will enable them buy produce from our farmers,”
said Chikhwantha.
During the
day, over 70 Smallholder farmers from all the constituencies in Lilongwe took
their time off and interacted with their aspiring parliamentarians.
day, over 70 Smallholder farmers from all the constituencies in Lilongwe took
their time off and interacted with their aspiring parliamentarians.
Source: ECM
