This morning, the Minister of Agriculture Lobin Lowe, MP, together with his Deputy Minister Hon. Agnes Nkusankhoma,  MP, as well as the Principal Secretary and other Ministry officials had talks with a delegation from Policy Support for Agriculture Transformation Project (PolSAT) and MwAPATA to discuss a number of issues surrounding Commercialization, resilience, diversification,  mechanisation, megafarms and other areas that need  be considered for Agriculture Transformation.

The delegation raised concerns on how the country may fail to the Vision 2063 citing deficiencies in strategies that can be guiding the nation in achieving what is laid down in the Vision 2063 blueprint.The Minister has challenged PolSAT and MwAPATA to undertake unbiased research in different agricultural areas where the nation isn't doing fine so that Agriculture Ministry can also depend on their research findings in developing strategies and policies that can help Malawi achieve objectives in the Vision 2063.

 The Minister cited one area of youth participation in agriculture as a very important area that needs to be researched to find out why most youths don’t venture into agriculture considering that agriculture transformation agenda cannot be achieved if the current status of youths shunning agriculture continues. MwAPATA board Chairperson Richard Mkandawire has commended the Ministry especially for considering research papers their institution does as very important in planning for agriculture transformation and as the Ministry is geared to redo our National Agriculture Policy, it will need research based propositions that will help the Ministry in aligning itself to the Vision 2063. The Ministry has however assured MwAPATA and PolSAT that it will continue engaging them where necessary as the home research institution to provide technical support based on facts drawn from research.