Maravi

(HERALD) Zim-Malawi seek to forge agricultural partnership

Zim-Malawi seek to forge agricultural partnership
Wednesday, 01 August 2012 00:00
Agriculture Reporter

Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made met his Malawian counterpart, Professor Peter Mwanza who is in the country to discuss ways of boosting productivity among smallholder farmers.

The two ministers visited the Exhibition Park where they had a meeting with heads of agricultural departments and parastatals. After touring the Exhibition Park, the team left for the Agriculture Demonstration Centre at Gwebi College to have a deeper understanding of mechanisation and equipment being used at the institution.
The team then went to SeedCo plant at Stapleford in Mt Hampden.

Minister Made said Zimbabwe and Malawi enjoyed bilateral and multilateral relations.
“Malawi is interested in the development of mechanisation, irrigation and wants to master knowledge on agricultural shows. Malawi wants to develop various agricultural shows and we are grateful to the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society for hosting us,” he said.

Prof Mwanza said he came to share information with his counterpart.

“It is very crucial that we share notes as we have common challenges in the agriculture industry. The region has been experiencing drought due to climate change and wants to look at ways of tacking the challenge.

“We have common problems with issues of tobacco and cotton marketing and food security in the region,” he said.

Cabinet last week ordered cotton ginners to pay a price based on the cost of production of the crop and declared that no farmers should sell at a price below the cost of production; US 77cents per kilogramme.

Prof Mwanza said he wanted to learn more on how agricultural shows were organised. He recognised the high standard of Zimbabwe’s agricultural show, which he said were advanced and organised.

“Zimbabwe has got vast experience in holding agricultural shoes and has even gone further to have independent structures such as ZAS running the shows,” he said.

Zimbabwe and Malawi share excellent relations, which were further strengthened in 2007 when the two governments signed a revised bilateral trade agreement, which is aimed at promoting two way trade.

Labels: JOSEPH MADE, MALAWI, SEEDCO

posted by MrK @ 3:09 PM