Thyolo, March 26, Mana: Thyolo smallholder farmers are set to benefit from the Centre for Agricultural Transformation (CAT) Banana Project, which is meant to revitalise banana production through modern agricultural technologies and knowledge transfer.

Spearheaded by CAT with support from NBM plc, the K90 million pilot project which will benefit over 600 banana farmers in Thyolo and Mulanje seeks to enhance productivity, improve market access, and introduce climate-smart farming practices.

Dr Kananji (standing front) making a presentation on the project

Speaking at District Executive Committee (DEC) meeting in Thyolo on Wednesday, CAT’s Director of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Geoffrey Kananji said the project’s goal is to transform Malawi’s agricultural systems by providing farmers access to innovative technologies.

“Through the establishment of demonstration plots in Thyolo and Mulanje, the initiative showcases best practices in banana farming, including use of tissue culture-generated suckers, drip irrigation, and improved crop nutrition techniques,” said Kananji.

He added that by engaging lead farmers and extension officers, the project ensures that critical knowledge is passed on to local farmers, equipping them with skills to increase yields and combat banana diseases.

“In Thyolo, we have set up a demo plot at Masambanjati Extension Planning Area (EPA) and farmers will not only access clean planting materials but also learn modern banana management techniques, from planting to harvest,” Kananji added.

A cross-section of participants during the meeting

Director of Planning and Development at Thyolo District Council, Thokozile Munthali said the project aligns with Thyolo’s broader development agenda.

“The coming in of this project will help us improve banana production, which will in turn enhance food security in the district.

“On top of that, since banana is a high-value crop, farmers producing it will be able to generate income, improving their overall well-being,” she added.

The director further explained that banana restoration was a key focus area in the Thyolo District Development Plan, with a goal of large-scale production to drive economic growth.

“We will not only be benefiting the district alone, but we will also contribute to Malawi 2063 agenda, which prioritises agricultural commercialisation,” Munthali said.

Recognizing the importance of banana restoration, she stated that the council had also incorporated banana production activities into the Regional Climate Resilience Programme to ensure production sustainability in the district.

Chief Agricultural Officer (CAO) for Thyolo, Mphatso Kafuwa disclosed that out of 1,357 hectares affected by banana diseases, 624 hectares have been controlled.

“We are on our road to recovery. For the past five years, we have had projects like the Agriculture Sector Wide Approach-Support Project (ASWAp-SP) and Kulima, which came in to help us revamp banana production by providing clean suckers to farmers,” said Kafuwa.

Despite the efforts, Kafuwa said the restoration initiative has faced challenges, with one of the biggest hurdles being farmers’ reluctance to uproot affected banana plants.

“We have had campaigns encouraging farmers to uproot infected plants, but we still have a long way to go. Some farmers remain hesitant, which is slowing down our progress,” she added.

Well known for banana production, Thyolo District experienced a significant decline in banana production in recent years due to banana bunchy top disease and poor agricultural practices.

By Yamikani Yapuwa