Financiers of the Agriculture Sector Wide Approach-Support II (ASWAp) project have expressed satisfaction with the progress of the project which the Ministry of Agriculture is implementing in 12 districts.

Speaking during a tour of some of the interventions in Dedza District on Tuesday, Norwergian Embassy first secretary for environment, agriculture and food security Helle Biseth said the timeframe and funding for ASWAp II have been increased to reach more farmers.

She said: “We are impressed with the progress so far and our hope is that come 2024, all project objectives will be achieved. It is pleasing to note that farmers are opening up and learning various technologies to increase productivity.

“Seeing them doing well and improving their livelihoods is what this project intends to achieve.’

One of the farmers in his banana plantation

“We have also taken note of some of the challenges being faced by farmers and their request to be given the opportunity to grow in their farming activities.”

The project also aims at rehabilitating rural roads that connect farmers to markets.

A farmer from Kuluya Village, Traditional Authority Kasumbu in Dedza District, Immaculate Manyenga, said the 10-kilometre Dedza-Kasumbu Road has connected farmers with buyers of their produce.

“We want the stretch to be completed because our main market is Bembeke, which means we have to travel to sell our produce,” she said.

A farmer from Zuze Village, Traditional Authority Kaphuka Joseph Maulana said banana farming has changed his life since 2019 when he received about 220 suckers.

He said: “So far, I have harvested three times and I have shared over 200 suckers on a pass-on programme to some farmers. I have also sold over 1 145 suckers at K1 000 each.”

ASWAp is being funded by the European Union, United States Agency for International Development, Governments of Norway, Flanders and Ireland. It targets about 180 000 farmers from five agricultural divisions.

The post ASWAp project progress satisfies donors  appeared first on The Nation Online.