By Chisomo Phiri
Minister of Trade and Industry, Vitumbiko Mumba, has emphasized the need for addressing challenges facing the banana industry in the country.
Speaking at the one-day Banana Growers Conference at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe on Friday, Mumba noted that the country is not producing enough bananas to meet demand due to diseases and climate change.
“We have not been able to produce enough to feed our country, therefore we need to produce our own bananas to meet the demand in our country,” he said.
The minister stressed the need for inclusive partnerships between farmers, financial institutions, researchers, processors, and policymakers to create a sustainable banana value chain.
On his part,Banana Growers Representative, Frank Washoni, highlighted the importance of access to certified planting materials, irrigation technologies, and extension support in boosting productivity.
Washoni also cited lack of access to finance, organized banana markets, and climate change as key factors contributing to the low supply of bananas in the country.
The conference themed ‘From Farm to Market: Advancing Banana Sector Growth through Inclusion, Reform, and Collaboration’ brought together stakeholders to discuss challenges and potential solutions.
