NEWS:

16 Aug, 2016


Farmers like these will easily access information through the project


Agricultural extension workers are crucial in transferring new technologies and information to farmers, however, their shortage in the country has attributed to food insecurity as there has been low crop yield as many farmers are still practicing old traditional farming which do not tally with ever changing climate and environment. This has led to poverty among smallholder who mostly depend on agriculture.

Although there are several institutions , training extension workers the challenge has been that most of them would dislike taking up post in the rural areas. Such is the case because most rural areas in Malawi have no electricity, do not have good houses while schools and hospitals are sparsely located.

The coming in of the partnership between Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) and the GRASSROOTS AFRICA is therefore a blessing in disguise as farmers will now have an easy access to information as well as new technologies.

According to GRASSROOTS AFRICA Managing Director, Benny Dembitzer, a group of international farmers, agronomists and experienced agricultural practitioners (including some Malawians) are coming together to help small-scale farmers with on-the-spot farming advice through this project.

“The service is based on a very simple forum of questions and answers for farmers. Farmers ask questions and qualified people answer them. GRASSROOTS AFRICA has been going for the last six years. It was launched by a group in the UK, all with experience of working in Africa, some of them Africans themselves, and has had a number of Malawian practitioners from the very start,” he said.

He said in its initial phase, the project is operating only in English, because it is the common language for most people from Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and Malawi, who are both farmers and advisers.

“In a second phase, which will be launched in the next couple of years, the service will available in some of the more common languages in East and Central Africa, including Chichewa and Swahili. The people who are answering questions from the farmers are all qualified; no one is admitted to the panels of advisers who does not have field work experince in this part of the world,” said Dembitzer

Dembitzer further said under the scheme, local farmers are encouraged to place questions, either via a computer or a smart phone, on the website saying the experts then answer questions on which they feel able and qualified to give advice.

“We all know that agriculture is about listening and learning. The farmers will receive suggestions on what they might like to try, and simple remedies to improve their farming,” he said.

Dr David Mkwambisi who is a Programmes Coordinator at LUANAR hailed GRASSROOTS AFRICA for the initiative saying this will go a long way to assist farmers in Malawi and the other participating countries.

He said during his recent visit to Malawi, Dembitzer consulted with the Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development and the Vice-Chancellor of LUANAR on the possibility of partnership and that they supported the idea.

“Several senior people from LUANAR, apart from the Vice-Chancellor, are now engaged in the project. We are trying to enlist other people into the project and only people with relevant expertise will be accepted as advisers hence we expect those who have registered to help at least with one or two questions per month,” said Dr Mkwambisi.

Dr Mkwambisi further emphasised on the need for better information to the farmers to diversify their production and to improve what they currently do, in the face of rapidly changing climatic conditions.

Dembitzer is the main sponsor of the project, he is a British development economist. He is, a member of the team which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1985, at the time of which he was Director of the European office of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear Weapons. For over the last 6 years Mr Dembitzer has met with several people who are working in the Extension Services of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, with commercial farmers, individuals who are working with the larger NGOs in Malawi, and visited a number of villages.

Here is an opportunity for everyone who has the right qualifications and the occasional bit of spare time to get involved in helping other Malawians. And the same applies if you are a farmer or work with farmers in any capacity. The service is entirely free. Anyone interested is invited to enquire from enquiries@grassrootsafrica.org or to consult the website; www.grassrootsafrica.org.


Written By: Patricia Nkhoma