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To prepare smallholder farmers for the new growing season, the Centre for Agricultural Transformation (CAT), with support from the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World through the Agricultural Transformation Initiative (ATI), is collaborating with its partners across the country to train 15,000 smallholder farmers in new agricultural technologies and innovation by targeting four viable value chains of soybean, groundnut, cassava and sunflower.
The trainings, facilitated by CAT partners and led by lead farmers, are taking place in selected districts of Lilongwe, Kasungu, Dowa, Mchinji, Nkhotakota and Zomba.
The official opening ceremony of the trainings took place last week at Madzo Farmers’ Cooperative at Madisi in Dowa district, where Going-Green with support from the CAT is reaching out to over 3,500 smallholder farmers.
CAT Director of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Geoffrey Kananji, said the trainings were important because they aimed to equip smallholder farmers with knowledge and skills on how they could increase productivity and incomes in the four value chains.
Dr Geoffrey Kananji – CAT Director of Science-Technology and Innovation
“It follows the training of 75 lead farmers and extension workers we had last month at the Natural Resources College in Lilongwe where the CAT oriented the farmers on new and proven agricultural technologies and innovation, financial management, among others. These lead farmers were expected to train other smallholder farmers in their locations. This is what is happening today here,” he said.
Going-Green Managing Director, Chikondi Khonje, said with support from the CAT her company provides good and ready markerts to sunflower smallholder farmers under the cooperative besides giving them sunflower seeds on contractual basis.
Chikondi Khonje – Managing Director of Going Green Ltd
Guest of Honour during the ceremony was Member of Parliament for the area (Dowa Ngala Constituency), Arthur Sungitsa, who applauded the initiative by the CAT and Going-Green to work with smallholder farmers in his area and transform their livelihoods for them to become self-reliant.
ENDS
