NEWS:

27 Jul, 2016


Dr Sefasi in a field of Cats whiskers (Luni)
LUANAR through the Horticulture Department is implementing a project “Promotion of Indigenous Vegetables Seed Production, Conservation and Utilisation in Malawi” with the aim of conserving the indigenous vegetables in the country.

Currently the human population of Malawi has been increasing and this coupled with the effects of climate change has led to land degradation and threaten the survival of various multipurpose indigenous vegetables.

According to Head of Horticulture Department Dr Abel Sefasi, indigenous vegetables have the potential of sustainably overcoming the challenges facing vulnerable communities in Malawi saying apart from being nutritious and genetically diverse, such vegetables are adapted to the climatic conditions and farming systems of Malawi.

“However the consumption and commercialization of Indigenous vegetables in Malawi is being constrained by poor access to quality seed and technical messages on recommended agronomic practices. The project intends to empower farmers with technical information to enable them produce their own indigenous vegetables and seed of the same,” he said.

He said among others, through the project quality indigenous seeds have been produced, farmers have been trained in agronomic practices for production of the indigenous vegetables as seed and food as well as discussing with stakeholders about the potential for commercialization of Indigenous vegetables.

Some of the vegetables promoted are Amaranths (Bonongwe), Roselle (Chidede), Cats whiskers (Luni) and Jews mallow (Denje).

The project with support from Capacity Building for Managing Climate Change (CABMACC) is being implemented in Mayani EPA in Dedza and Linga EPA in Nkhotakota.


Written By: Patricia Nkhoma