Small and Medium Enterprises Development Institute (Smedi) has trained 1 000 beneficiaries of the Transforming Agriculture Through Diversification and Entrepreneurship (Trade) Programme.

Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, Smedi business information and advisory services officer Dennis Mhango said the training follows an assessment of training needs of beneficiaries in the district.

He said 1 000 beekeepers from four extension planning areas of Chikwina, Chintheche, Mpamba and Mzenga in Nkhata Bay District learned how to improve their business to maximise their profits.

“We drilled them in modern beekeeping and harvesting techniques so that they should grow their business and transform their lives,” said Mhango.

He also said under the Honey Value Chain Commercialisation and Resilience of Rural Poor and Smallholder Producers Project, they trained the farmers in smart climate agriculture technologies and sustainable forest management.

Victoria Singini, a beekeeper from Chintheche, commended Smedi for the training.

“The training equipped us with modern beekeeping skills which will boost our businesses,” she said.

Singini also said they learned smart climate agriculture technologies which will help to improve their food production.

“We now know that we can get bumper yields even when there is little rainfall through conservation agriculture and  the use of manure to retain soil fertility and moisture,” she said.

Trade is a six-year government programme working in 11 districts under the Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture with support from the Opec fund.

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