The Competition and Fair Trading Commission ( CFTC) is leaving no stone behind in ensuring that all Agricultural Extension Officers are aware and have full knowledge on contract farming.
The commission has been crisscrossing the country since August 30, 2021, sensitizing Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security Extension Officers on contract farming. It has also been meeting farmers to appreciate the kind of contracts that they enter into.
During the exercise which ended on September 10, 2021, CFTC has conducted seminars with Extension Officers in Dowa, Ntchisi, Nkhotakota, Rumphi, Chitipa and Karonga. The commission has also held meetings with Officers in Balaka, Mulanje, Thyolo, Nthewu, Blantyre and Mwanza where it has sensitized over 250 Officers.
Speaking during one of the seminars in Ntchisi, Competition and Fair Trading Commission ( CFTC) Acting Director Apoche Itimu said the meetings were important because they accorded to raise awareness on contract farming. ” We know that many farmers are not aware of how to get into contracts that favour them and end up being shortchanged. These seminars are aimed at equipping extension officers with knowledge on contract farming so that they can help farmers get into better contracts”, said Itimu.
Apart from the seminars with the extension officers, CFTC has also been conducting interviews with farmers on existing contract agreements with their buyers in order to determine whether their contracts carry any restrictive clauses. During one of the interviews, the commission received allegations that some farmers had been duped off farm produce, a conduct which is believed to be a breach of the agreement that was signed.
The Competition and Fair Trading Commission of Malawi is implementing a project on enhancement of competition and consumer protection in the agriculture Sector in Malawi under Agriculture Commercialization ( AGCOM) project. Earlier in July, the commission conducted another round of seminar in Salima, Mangochi, Dedza, Zomba, Machinga, Balaka, Mzimba, Kasungu, and Mchinji meeting over 200 Officers.
In a challenge and response scenario, Malawian farmers are working towards alternatives to the use of organic fertilizers in their crop production endeavors. This is in the wake of the steep rise in the prices of fertilizers prices on the market.
However, as one way of making sure that farmers are still accessing cheaper fertilizer, agricultural enterprise called Phindu Agri Solutions has taken a new step in manufacturing organic fertlizer called Phindu Biofix Organic Fertilizer is cheap and easily accessible by farmers.
In a separate interview, Founder and Managing Director of Phindu Agri Solutions Willington Chatepa said he pioneered the established the enterprise with an objective of providing an alternative to the traditional methods of managing soil fertility in Malawi as well as the fertilizer prices hike.
He said Phindu Biofix is an organic fertilizer which is processed from organic raw materials such as composted poultry feacal droppings blended with nitrogen-rich greens like leauchaena and a small dose of Agricultural lime. ” The Biofix orgsic fertilizer is locally made fertilizer from the mixture of Agricultural lime and composted poultry droppings. The lime added is meant to regulate the product’s PH”, explained Chatepa.
Managing Director of Phindu Agri Solutions Willington Chatepa
Asked to clarify on what exactly the organic fertilizer is offfering, Chatepa said that although inorganic fertilizers seem to be indspensable in Malawi, they are not as beneficial as most people perceive them to be. He said apart from price element, research has shown that shown that perpetual use of in organic fertilizers degrade the soil to a state where where the farmer will be hooked to fertilizer use for eternity. ” Plants being organisms, depend so much on the soil ecosystems to sustain themselves. The ecosystem includes friendly micro-organisms, earthworms and others which live symbolically with planted crops. As chemicals, organic fertilizers only come in to eliminate that life, making the plant totally dependant on the chemical fertilizers and their toxic elements”, said Chatepa.
Chatepa said the another important of organic fertilizer is that it improves soil properties such as moisture retention capacity, nutrient balance, effeciency on controlling pathogens and weeds like sativa asiatica known as witchweed or Kaufiti. He said the nutritional balance found in organic fertilizer is also responsible for fruit vegetable farming such as garlic, onion, leafy vegetables, tomato, coffee, banana and all others. He said in Western countries, Organic Fertilizers are highly priced as compared to inorganic fertilizers because of their value and harmony with the environment for a healthier planet. ” We are aware that we have few other producers of organic fertilizers in Malawi. This is a health development. My advice to our colleagues is that we should not conduct ourselves as competitors but a team of well meaning Malawians who must bring change to farming as a business. Although our organic fertilizers are low priced, we would like draw government’s attention to consider to include organic fertilizers in its distribution plans to farmers in projects such as that of Affordable Inputs Program ( AIP)”, said Chatepa.
Chatepa said as part of sensitizing farmer on the importance of using their organic fertilizer, they are conducting several interface meetings with the rural communities in the districts of Zomba, Phalombe, Thyolo, Mulanje and Chiladzuru. ” We have so far reached out farmers in Zomba , Chiladzuru, Phalombe, Thyolo and other northern region districts so as to sensitize them on how importance our organic fertilizer is to their crops. It is very interesting to see how popular Phindu Biofix organic fertilizer has become within a short period of time”, he said. He said their future plans is to reach to reach out to more farmers so as they should be aware of Phindu Biofix Organic Fertilizer. He said as a company, that they are very grateful for the cooperation they have received from the government officers in the area reached for sensitization messages saying it is an indication that they are doing great Job. ” We are very grateful for the corperation we are receiving from government officers in areas we are reaching out for sensitization. This means we are doing great job to the nation at large”, said Chatepa.
Currently, a 50 Kilogram (kg) bag of Phindu Biofix Organic Fertilizer is at K8,000 and found in two outlets, Njuli near quarry and Farm Rite in Luwinga, Mzuzu.
Callisto Pasuwa’s Nyasa Big Bullets have secured a first-leg advantage over AmaZulu after a 1-0 win in South Africa in the preliminary round of the 2021-22 CAF Champions League season.
Bullets got their goal from Chiuiepo Msowoya in the 36th minute after a defensive mix-up in the Usuthu box.A strong start from AmaZulu had Memela running in behind the defence from a through ball and a free-kick in a promising area by the same player and Sphesihle Maduna.
Big Bullets weren’t overawed amidst Usuthu’s pressure and snatched the lead following the opening half-hour mark after Chiukepo Msowoya pounced on a goalkeeping error by Veli Mothwa.
The joy turned inside minutes as a strong challenge near the danger area by Yamikani Fodya led to his marching orders and forced Big Bullets to finish the half with ten players.
Usuthu should’ve been level ahead of halftime after a flowing move down the right freed in Maduna, who hoofed Lehlohonolo Majoro’s cutback over the top from close-range.
Big Bullets altered their stall minutes before the interval in the way of Precious Phiri for the goal-scorer and former Orlando Pirates striker Msowoya.
AmaZulu spurned another big chance two minutes after halftime with a header from close-range by substitute Siphelele Mthembu, but the lanky forward headed over the top.
The host kept piling on the pressure inside the final stages in the hope of getting a way back, but Memela and Philani Zulu’s adventures led to absolute naught whilst having a goal disallowed.
Late drama had Usuthu’s Keagan Buchanan striking the woodwork twice from two close-range attempts, while Tapelo Xoki spurned a free-kick, as Bullets stunned AmaZulu.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Pasuwa’s charges remained disciplined at the back for the remainder of the game and managed to contain all of AmaZulu’s threats and dominance.
The second leg will be played in Blantyre on 18 September.
Football Association of Malawi has congratulated Bullets for the vital win. Writing on the official Facebook page , the message from the soccer body said “The President Walter Nyamilandu-Manda and the entire Executive Committee of the Football Association of Malawi would like to congratulate Nyasa Big Bullets for beating South African PSL side Amazulu 1-0 in the first leg of the CAF Champions League preliminary round away in Durban on Friday evening.
Let’s finish the job at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on Saturday.!!!!!!
A fourth year student in Bachelor of Environmental Science and Technology at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Science ( MUBAS) formerly the Polytechnic Paul Kaipa has invented a fireless cooker which is used to cook meals by retaining heat from the thermal insulating locally found materials used to make the cooker.
In a separate interview, Kaipa said he came up with this project in order to reduce the rate of deforestation in the country since the cooker he has invented does not use charcoal or firewood. ” Fireless cooker is a basket or any container made of Palm leaves ( Mlaza). It uses a simple process in which food is brought to boil , simmered for few minutes and put in the fireless cooker to continue cooking”, explained Kaipa.
Paul Kaipa with his invention
In his comment, Malawi University of Business and Applied Science Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor Associate Professor Betchani Tchereni commended Kaipa for coming with this project. He said that this is what MUBAS is envisage, to produce graduates who are innovative and have enteprenuership skills which can be used in the future. ” We are very happy to see him inventing this fireless cooker which is useful in the fight against deforestation. As an institution, this what we want and produce more students like Kaipa who will help developing the nation once they go in industry” , said Tchereni.
Kaipa’s cooker is a call attention in the fight against deforestation which is rampant in the country placing Malawi on the danger point of unexpected climate change.
Deputy Minister of Local Government Halima Daudi has asked councils to continue supervising and monitoring non-governmental organizations ( NGOs) that are working in their areas for quality service delivery.
She made the remarks on Wednesday during a visit aimed at appreciating Mangochi District Council’s efforts aimed at improving the social-economic and livelihoods of the people in the district. While commending some Non-governmental Organization ( NGOs) for good performance, Daudi said it was sad to note that others conclude their assigning project period without any achievement.
Hon Halima Daudi
She said her Ministry is working hand in hand with the Anti-Corruption Beuraeu ( ACB) so as to clean-up the mess in councils. ” For long, councils have been described as hubs for corruption. This is unfortunate. Let me, therefore, warn all stakeholders that misappropriation of funds is over. This government shall not condone corruption”, Said Daudi.
Mangochi DC Raphael Piringu
In his remarks, District Commissioner ( DC) for Mangochi District Raphael Piringu that in adequate accountability to NGOs is one of the major challenges councils face. ” The current legal and policy arrangement does not empower councils with enough authority to hold NGOs accountable for funds meant for the people”, Said Piringu.
