Malawi faces a dual challenge of high youth unemployment among agricultural graduates and low agricultural productivity on smallholder farms. In response, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) is implementing the Mega Teaching Farm Program, which leverages the University’s expertise, infrastructure and practical learning platforms to contribute to creation of the next generation of agripreneurs. The programme aims to contribute towards agricultural transformation, increased productivity and commercialization.

As part of this initiative, LUANAR is introducing the three-year Transformative Agriculture for Graduate Youth Job Creation (TAG) programme. The programme aims to develop entrepreneurial minded graduates into commercially oriented farmers and agribusiness leaders. Through an incubation-based experiential learning model, it integrates industrial crops, annual crops and livestock into diversified, climate-resilient farming enterprises hat promote income generation, business growth and enterprise
creation.

TAG builds on LUANAR’s proven experience in experiential learning and agribusiness development through TACE, Agrinopact, who will spearhead delivery and research; and the Israeli-Kinneret “learning by doing” internship model. Where appropriate, enterprises will also create synergies with LUANAR Holdings Company Limited through production, aggregation, value addition, service delivery and market access. The three-year initiative therefore strengthens the Mega Teaching Farm agenda
by developing graduate-led, market-oriented agribusinesses that learn by doing, generate income and are capable of scaling.

The call therefore invites ambitious, entrepreneurial-minded LUANAR and other eligible agriculture related graduates to participate. Applicants are required to form a three-member team comprising both male and female members and submit business proposals for commercially viable enterprises. Each team will select a mix of agricultural commodities consisting of at least one conventional crop, one horticultural crop and one livestock enterprise, with the combination justified through a business
plan demonstrating commercial viability. Selected teams will have access to concessionary financing to support stipend requirements, production inputs and operational services. The call therefore seeks business proposals that are not simply production ideas, but credible commercial enterprises with clear marke