* 15 farm cooperatives officially registered and operational with two focused on livestock production
* SVTP Phase II has facilitated linkages with 21 commodity off takers; 6 financial service providers; 4 farm input suppliers and 11 farm machinery and equipment suppliers
By Duncan Mlanjira
Under ‘Farm Development & Market Linkages’ of the Component III of the Phase II of Shire Valley Transformation Programme (SVTP) is supporting farmers in the Shire Valley to transition towards commercial and irrigated agriculture.
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Thus the SVTP media platform reports on the progress in strengthening farming cooperatives and their capacity to invest and operate successful farms.
This far 13 commercial farms are officially earmarked for irrigation, covering 10,656.44 hectares with 15 farming cooperatives already registered and operational — two of which are focused on livestock production.
Taking cognizance that the farming cooperatives will need access to robust markets, SVTP Phase II has facilitated linkages with 21 commodity off takers; six financial service providers; four farm input suppliers and 11 farm machinery and equipment suppliers.
The SVTP Media further reports that the cooperative members have received capacity-building training from service providers and that 13 business plans have been prepared to guide investment in the commercial farms.
“These interventions are helping cooperatives move beyond production by connecting them to finance, inputs, machinery, technical services and reliable markets.
“SVTP Phase II is helping build a stronger, more productive and commercially oriented agricultural sector in the Shire Valley.
“Let’s collaborate to support farmers in the Shire Valley,” reports SVTP Media.
Kapichira Dam, the intake site where water will be abstracted and conveyed through canals by gravity to irrigate commercial farmlands
Being developed with financial support from the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), OPEC Fund and the Malawi Government, the SVTP Phase II is at an advanced stage with water from the canal expected to start flowing to Kambadwe and Mwanaalilenji-cooperative-farm-blocks-in-October — as reported by SVTP Media last week.
SVTP Phase II became effective on September 12, 2022 and is scheduled to run until September 30, 2028 — building on the achievements of SVTP Phase I which ended in 2024.
The SVTP reports that Phase II “is focused on advancing irrigation infrastructure, completing land tenure formalisation, strengthening district land administration and planning institutions, improving natural resources management, and promoting agricultural modernisation and commercialisation”.
“The programme also supports private-sector participation and agricultural value chains to create greater opportunities for farmers and other players in the agriculture sector.
“SVTP Phase II is laying the foundation for a more productive, commercial and sustainable agricultural sector in the Shire Valley.
“In the end, SVTP Phase III will scale up investments and activities initiated under SVTP Phase II to further expand irrigated commercial agriculture and sustainable natural resource management,” reported the SVTP Media.
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