A delegation from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) on Wednesday paid a courtesy call on Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Honourable Roza Fatch Mbilizi at the Ministry’s Boardroom in Lilongwe, where they discussed opportunities to accelerate agricultural commercialisation and industrialisation.

Speaking during the meeting, Mbilizi said Government’s focus is shifting beyond food security towards agricultural commercialisation, while ensuring that food security remains a fundamental priority.

She said Government is promoting mega farms and anchor farming as key models for attracting private-sector investment and linking smallholder farmers to markets.

Under the model, investors will anchor surrounding smallholder farmers through organised production, aggregation, processing and access to markets.

Mbilizi said Government has identified priority agricultural value chains for investment and is focusing on strengthening opportunities across production, aggregation and processing, while improving access to domestic and international markets.

The Minister further said Government is planning to establish agricultural industrial parks supported by satellite aggregation centres and mega farms as part of efforts to develop an integrated agricultural industry.

She called for technical assistance from UNECA, including support towards feasibility studies and implementation of the planned industrialisation initiatives.

UNECA Director for the Subregional Office for Southern Africa, Ms Eunice Kamwendo, said the Commission was ready to support Malawi’s industrialisation agenda, particularly efforts to move agriculture up the value chain through processing and agro-industrial development.

Kamwendo said UNECA’s experience in supporting agro-industrial parks and satellite aggregation centres in Zambia and Zimbabwe could provide useful lessons for Malawi, adding that the Commission could provide technical support in feasibility studies, strategy development and institutional frameworks.

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