Recounting January Events

The first trip to Mzimba, Malawi took place in January 2011, from January 3rd - 15th. This was the first time the team met. The main objectives of the trip were equipment set up and training, meet with potential collaborators in Lilongwe and the Mzimba District, and perform field visits with World Relief District Team for relationship building with farmers of the District.

During the January trip the team set up appointments and visited with several people working in horticulture and post processing in the Mzimba District and in the capital city of Lilongwe. The following list represents government and higher education professionals who are involved in extension and research in aspects of horticulture and food processing.

Department of Agriculture District Office – Mzimba, Mzimba District

       -Mr. Chomba – Deputy Director 

 -Fred Maroyo – Horticulture Officer

Mbawa EPA – Mbawa, Mzimba District

Mbawa Agriculture Experimental Station – Mbawa, Mzimba District

 -Chimings Chamika- Director

Bunda College of Agriculture – Lilongwe, Malawi

-Professor Moses B. Kwapata - Principal

-Agnes Mbachi Mwangwela – Food Scientist

Ministry of Agriculture – Horticulture Division

Some of the main points we took from these discussions include:

·          Department of Agriculture District Office

o    There needs to be a focus on the market and value added processing

o    Fruit production is being promoted – generates more income than vegetables

·          Mbawa EPA

o    Challenge is getting perishables to market quickly

o    Currently there are three Small Holder Production and Marketing Schemes in Mzimba. The program is in its third year. Around 50 farmers work as an association on a designated piece of land (around 20 ha) with inputs being funded by a revolving fund. Treadle pump irrigation is used to support continuous production throughout the year with a warehouse and collection center built for transport and storage.

·          Mbawa Agriculture Experimental Station

o    Horticulture isn’t currently a part of the Mbawa EPA

o    The town of Jenda is key for any marketing project for people living in southern Mzukuzuku.

·          Bunda College of Agriculture

o    Bunda faculty could have a part in a future project as advisors, review and evaluation, research opportunities for staff and students, and multiplication of planning for experiments.

o    Bunda staff collaborate with NGOs, USAID, EU, African Union National Research Council and with a network of twenty-five African universities for research and teaching exchanges.

o    Connections with US universities include: Penn State, University of California and University of Iowa.

o    Concerning post-processing, the challenges are infrastructure, transportation and electricity. Consistency and volume are also concerns and challenges.

·          Ministry of Agriculture – Horticulture Division

o    Horticulture is underdeveloped in Malawi.

o    Some VCA have been done for some horticulture crops

o    Citrus-producing areas are under attack by pests. Rehab of old trees is being done by FAO and Malawian Government.

o    Other horticulture crops being promoted: pineapple, banana, citrus, macadamia, cashew, avocado, Irish potatoes