By Linda Kwanjana

Minister of Agriculture Sam Dalitso Kawale on Tuesday launched the first-ever series of meetings with 2,200 front-line workers in the Ministry of Agriculture.

Speaking in an exclusive interview at Cross Roads Hotel in Lilongwe Kawale said the Ministry of Agriculture decided to meet the front line workers in the agriculture sector in order to hear from them challenges they are facing.

Kawale said these are the workers  that you meet in the village, helping our farmers to increase productivity as well as make a better livelihood.

“So we are meeting all of them, approximately 2, 200 of them in all the eight Agriculltural Development Division (ADDs). We actually going to those adds, to meet them where they are. The goal is to first of all, share the agriculture reforms that we are currently implementing, and secondly, to hear from them some of the challenges and the solutions that they would like to provide to the Ministry for us to implement so that these reforms can be very effective,” he said.

Kawale said , the format of these meetings is that the ministry of agriculture, will be sharing the importance of these agriculture reforms, because the goal is to move from subsistence farming to commercial farming.

According to Kawale, the future of this country lies in the implementation of commercial farming.

The Minister said in the midst of everything, the Ministry wants them to understand the importance of stopping to think about agriculture or farming seasons, to start thinking about agriculture or farming cycles.

“Now, when you talk about farming cycles, it simply means the use of irrigation in our areas increasing productivity should start with mindset change, where we are moving away from subsistence farming and subsidies to commercial farming, irrigation and farming cycles so that we are getting the much needed food at a household level and surplus food for selling, as well as diversification of what we are producing for export purposes,” he said.

He said the Ministry goal is to move together with the frontline workers, for them to understand what the ministry want to do, and for them to go back and start implementing what they want them to help farmers implement the skills.

In his remarks , Nyanja EPA Agricultural extension Coordinator,  Themba Nyekanyeka appealed to the Miniser to address housing, transport and refresher courses.

He said previously they used to receive bicycles or bicycle allowances which is not happening at the moment.

According to the coordinator,  these people travel long distances and motorcycle could be the best option.