BY: DRAXON MALOYA

Journalist have been challenged to monitor and report on the significant milestone achieved using funds amounting to k556 Billion which is equivalent to US$333 million World Bank and a Multi-Donor Trust Fund, in form of grants channelled towards the implementation of the Agricultural Commercialisation Project (AGCOM 2).

Speaking in Mzuzu City during a workshop on Agriculture Commercialization, Chairperson for Nyika Media Club, an umbrella body for media practitioners based in the north, Feston Malekezo, challenged journalists to report accurately the significance of the Agricultural Commercialisation Project, saying stories should reflect the impacts of the initiative on the farmers.

“It is imperative for reporting to critically analyse the impact on the farmers considering all essential factors, this is a grant which needs to be carefully put to use hence need highlighting the impact on the farming families,” said Malekezo.

Among others the stakeholders reflected on the successful outcomes of the AGCOM 1 Project that has paved the way for its successor program, AGCOM 2 which started in 2023 and will run up until 2029.

Principal Economist in the Ministry of Agriculture, Wilson Nagoli stressed that AGCOM 2 Project will among others, support six irrigation schemes countrywide, with funds amounting to 556 Billion Kwacha which is equivalent to 333 million US Dollars, from the World Bank and a Multi-Donor Trust Fund, in form of grants.

“The AGCOM 2 Project will support six irrigation schemes countrywide, with funds amounting to 556 Billion Kwacha which is equivalent to 333 million US Dollars, courtesy of the World Bank and a Multi-Donor Trust Fund,” said Nagoli.

Agricultural Productivity and Commercialization project, aimed at eradicating poverty at both, household and national level, in line with the Malawi Vision 2063 was launched last year in Ntchisi District by president Lazarus Chakwera.