Malawi has vowed to push for a stake in the projected African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agri-business boom to counter food insecurity.

Minister of Trade and Industry Simplex Chithyola-Banda said this on Wednesday at the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) Business Forum in Lusaka, Zambia.

He was reacting to AfCFTA’s pronouncement during the opening of the forum that it’s pushing to achieve a 574 percent increase in intra-Africa agriculture trade by 2030.

Said Chithyola: “We will leverage on the fact that Malawi is a food basket. As you are quite aware that almost everything grows in Malawi.

“Now that the platform has been created, it is our time that we sell our agricultural produce within and beyond Comesa.”

AfCFTA’s emphasis has been nailed on ensuring that the agro-products have value addition. And Chithyola-Banda said the country can achieve this with the private sector’s participation. 

He stated: “Time has come for us not to sell raw agricultural produce. We need to add value now.

“Can industries in Malawi jack up and produce quality products that can compete at Comesa or continental free trade area?”

Queried on what policies the government is introducing to enhance value addition, the minister said: “We are putting up legislation which will help create a conducive environment for investment.

 “For example, we are trying to push for Special Economic Zones Bill which we are going to table soon.”

Special economic zone is a designated area that is subject to unique economic regulations that differ from other areas in the same country.

In his opening remarks at the business forum, AfCFTA general secretary Wamkele Mene  said the food challenges that hit the continent following the Russia-Ukraine war should jerk Africa to work towards feeding itself.

“It is not acceptable that Africa imports $50 billion worth of food a year including grains, wheat, rice and other commodities that are available in Africa.

“Our estimates in the next few years, where we accelerate the intention of AfCFTA tariffs, accelerate the issue of tariffs (reduction) on agricultural products by 2035…

“We will present ourselves with an opportunity to release Africa from food insecurity,” he said.

The business forum, an interactive platform for private and public sectors, was part of the Comesa Summit.

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