Nkhata Bay beekeepers intensify afforestation initiatives

* The farmer are limited to put more hives for their business as the forest which they use has few trees * We are experiencing some problems in bee keeping as there are few trees to put bee hives on By Chisomo Kambandanga, MANA Beekeeping groups under Transforming Agriculture through Diversification and Entrepreneurship (TRADE) program in the area of Senior Chief Fukamapiri in NKhata Bay District, have embarked on preparation for tree-seedlings for the next forestry season, saying forests…

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Tobacco Commission cracks down on contamination of tobacco packaging at auction floors

* A staggering 5,080 bales containing contaminated tobacco were confiscated during the 2024 selling season * Nesting is a serious problem that compromises the integrity of our tobacco industry and hurts our economy By Patience Kapinda, MANA The Tobacco Commission of Malawi has launched a crackdown on the illicit practice of ‘nesting’ where unscrupulous tobacco sellers conceal inferior products or objects within bundles to deceive buyers. According to Tobacco Commission public relations officer, Telephorus Chigwenembe, a staggering 5,080 bales…

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Movya Beekeeping Club in Nkhata Bay was established after members realised the consequences of deforestation on people’s everyday livelihood

* Some forests suffered greatly at our merciless hands as we were into serious charcoal burning and selling * I paid my academic tuition fees using money made from burning charcoal and selling—successful bee-keeping farmer Feature by Joel Phiri, MANA When Blasco Nkhata, 51, of John Chumia Village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Kabunduli in Nkhata Bay decided to call it time on his borehole drilling business in 2012 in Salima, he decided to go back home to occupy the…

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Farmers getting good returns in Thyolo through agronomics and sustainable land management

* My family has three fish ponds and our annual harvest stands at 360 kgs of fish, sold at K5,000 per kilogramme translating into K1.8 million per year * This money has enabled us to buy settlement land, build a decent home and pay for our children’s education By Yamikani Yapuwa In the Serene Village of Maonga in Sub-Traditional Authority (STA) Mlenga in Thyolo District, farmers under Msuwadzi catchment are quietly revolutionising sustainable farming through agronomics and sustainable land…

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MWASIP assisting towards restoration of 10,334 hectares of degraded land along the Shire River in Balaka to improve agricultural activities

* Project has three main components — land restoration cover, watershed services and technical support to farmers * Farmers are able to practice modern conservational agriculture, while others were getting financial grants * That will enable them to venture into agribusinesses such as piggery, beekeeping and fish farming By Andrew Phiri, MANA Farmers along the Shire River basin in Balaka District have expressed optimism that the adoption of land restoration and forest conservation practices under Malawi Watershed Services Improvement…

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Impact of hunger caused by effects El Niño still very worrisome as WFP orders 29,000 metric tonnes of maize to support affected Malawians

Paul Turnbull and Moses Chimphepo making the announcement * The El Nino, which the country experienced between the year 2023 and 2024 affected the crop production * Due to a long dry spell and has forced many families to be food insecure By Victor Singano Jnr Department of Disaster Preparedness & Management (DoDMA) says the impact of hunger which was caused by El Niño weather phenomenon is still very worrisome because it affected about 5.7 million people whose required…

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Malawians should promote SMEs as their primary target for business is the local market—Gwengwe

* Our moral responsibility as Malawians is to promote our own SMEs and cooperatives and this should start by buying their products * When we buy imported goods, we are promoting SMEs from other countries * And at the same time we are creating jobs for people outside Malawi at the expense of our fellow Malawians By Salome Gangire, MANA In reiterating the national slogan of ‘Buy Malawian’, Minister of Trade & Industry, Sosten Gwengwe urges the citizenry to…

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SMEs in agro-processing and value addition thrilled with their consideration to benefit from AGCOM investment programme

* Anchor farmers, aggregators and SMEs play a vital role in consolidating production and ensuring quality * Ministry of Trade & Industry’s vision is to expand trade at both local and international levels * And to achieve this, the country needs to produce and add value through various manufacturing processes By Duncan Mlanjira Small & medium enterprise (SME) agri-business players in the Southern Region, have expressed their enthusiasm towards government’s consideration for them to benefit from the Malawi Food…

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Ministry of Natural Resources applauds stakeholders for inculcating into young minds climate change awareness

* Your presence has made this day so blessed and so meaningful—nine-year-old Nohaviwa Levi of Montessori Private School * It signifies the spirit of togetherness and patriotism as the saying goes ‘United We Stand; Divided we Fall’ * We are all witnessing these challenges globally — so what are we waiting for? There is need for an immediate action to be taken other than folding our hands in this hopeless time By Duncan Mlanjira Secretary for Ministry Natural Resources…

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Ministry of Natural Resources launches special publications to sensitise people on negative effects of invasive alien species

* The destructive non-native plant and animal species that are deliberately imported or brought in by accident * Which are posing as one of the biggest threats to biodiversity and livelihoods * They can replace the native species and thus affecting the diversity of species in the environment By Duncan Mlanjira The Government, through the Ministry of Natural Resources & Climate Change and in collaboration with various development partners, has developed three main publications that sensitises efforts being undertaken…

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