Lilongwe, 2 September 2024 – The Centre for Agricultural Transformation (CAT) participated in the three-day 20th National Agriculture Fair held in Blantyre, Malawi from 29-31 August 2024 and assisted 11 partner agribusinesses in securing business deals and exploring export opportunities for their value-added products.

The 11 agribusinesses who are Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) include Hortinet Foods Limited, Teren Agro Limited, Perisha Agro and Packaging Enterprise, Paanachi, Theophilus Investments, Africa Agriculture Holdings Limited, MCM Investments, Plant Catalyst, Agriculture Services and Supplies Limited, Ndatani Investments, and Global Seeds.

Under the theme “Driving Towards Export-Oriented Agriculture Through Commercialization and Innovation,” CAT and its partners showcased a variety of agricultural technologies and value-added products. These included banana crisps and plantlets, high-quality cassava flour and starch, sunflower cooking oil and cakes, peanut butter, processed groundnut, sweet potato flour, fish and poultry feed made from soybean, chia seeds, and a plant catalyst designed to enhance nutrient absorption.

The National Agriculture Fair was officially opened by Mozambique’s President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi and President Lazarus Chakwera, who visited the CAT pavilion to appreciate the displayed products and agricultural technologies. They praised CAT’s efforts to transform the agricultural sector by supporting smallholder farmers, improving market access, and enhancing value addition for exports.

Dr. Geoffrey Kananji, CAT’s Director of Science, Technology, and Innovation, remarked that CAT was demonstrating a model that could help make Malawi’s agriculture sector more export oriented. “The CAT showcased a comprehensive approach that considers the entire value chain—from production and value addition to market commercialization. This model is crucial for advancing towards export-oriented agriculture,” he explained.

Dr. Kananji also highlighted that CAT’s collaboration with SMEs included showcasing value-added products like livestock feed and floating fish feed, aimed at reducing reliance on imports and connecting farmers with stable markets through its partners.

“To boost productivity, CAT has demonstrated the importance of starting with high-quality inputs, such as improved crop varieties that are high-yielding and disease-resistant. We also emphasized the use of plant protection products, fertilizers, and plant catalysts to enhance crop response and productivity,” he added.

Sphiwe Msiska Mauwa, Managing Director of MCM Investments, expressed her excitement about the opportunity to showcase and sell her sunflower oil at the fair. “MCM Investments was thrilled with the opportunities and experiences gained at the National Agriculture Fair. The exposure, sales, and interactions with various stakeholders have greatly promoted our Sweet Gold sunflower cooking oil and cake,” she said.

With funding from the Global Action to Ending Smoking, CAT integrates science, technology, and innovation with market systems development to support farmers and SMEs. This initiative aims to boost productivity, provide financial and technical assistance to produce high-quality value-added products, and offer ready markets for farmers.