By Evance Songwe PhiriLilongwe — Government says it is committed to enhancing productivity among young innovative farmers to amicably promote the commodities they produce by searching and connecting to prospective markets to improve their livelihood.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Allan Chiyembekeza said this Saturday during the Young Innovative Farmers Market Fair at Sanctuary Lodge in Lilongwe.
Dr Chiyembekeza noted that most of young innovative farmers were facing a challenge of market for their products which he said Government will help to connect them to prospective buyers.
The Minister applauded the young entrepreneurs for their effort in participating and showcasing what they are doing to improve their lives and become self-reliant.
He added that it is quite impressive to see that some of the innovative farmers are graduates, the youths that are ICT, Accountants taking agriculture as an imperative aspect for their daily living.
"It's very interesting to see graduates participating in young innovative farmers market fair. It is encouraging to note," the Minister said.
The Chief Executive Officer of the African Institute of Corporate Citizenship (AICC) Dr. Felix Lombe said that though the young innovative market fair is a success still many young people do not take part in the exercise which he described not pleasing to the socio-economic development of the nation.
He further said that the youth must embrace the opportunity exposed to them to showcase their talents to the nation and the world, saying that is the only way to make their ideas known and depend on for their daily living.
"The young innovative farmers market fair is dominated by the foreigners and not the Malawian youths, he sadly noted that many youths in the country are still viewing agriculture as an outdated business which suit old people," said Dr. Lombe.
He therefore, encouraged young people to shade-off the old school of thinking that agriculture is meant for poor people and they cannot make or earn a living out of it.
"It is surprising to see that many are not Malawian youths here showcasing their produces. This only means that they do not take agriculture as a fruitful endeavour ...," he lamented.
JICA OVOP Project marketing and ICT Officer Fracisco Mpambe reiterated that many local cooperatives are choked by the Malawi Bureau of Standards' (MBS) delays in processing and certifying their corporative.
He said that many cooperatives are indoor factories and their products are affected by seasonal harvest of the raw materials.
"The raw materials we use are seasonal; however we are affected in a way that when there is need to operate we require certification from the Malawi Bureau of Standards. The process takes long and even now many of the commodities displayed are not certified," he said.
He added that Malawians must stop buying imported goods and services but to start liking the locally produced goods to enhance the economy.