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New maize project for improved production
By
James Mphande - 08-05-2002 |
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The Malawi Government and the Republic of China (ROC) Friday launched a good maize production project at a function held at Chitsime Extension Planning Area (EPA) of the Lilongwe Agricultural Development Division (ADD) funded by the Chinese.
The project aims at increasing yields over a small area by following recommended production technologies and providing open pollinated maize seeds.
The ROC ambassador to Malawi Hsi Tsan Chen said the project is a complimentary effort to the government’s new policy of crop diversification, saying the Chinese saw that such a programme alone could not bring instant results hence the application of modern cultural practices to already established crops like maize.
“It is for this reason that our agricultural mission embarked on a five year Smallholder Farmers Maize Production Project to increase maize production through the provision of high quality composite seed and fertiliser to farmers in groups.,” said Chen.
He said the project has so far been encouraging as it has shown that it could improve the country’s production per hectare.
“About 150 hectares were cultivated on the onset of the project which realised an average yield per hectare of 4,738.4 kg which is higher than the whole national average of 1,650 kg per hectare,” he said.
Speaking at the same function, Agriculture Minister Aleke Banda said his ministry is concerned with the country’s low maize production especially among smallholder farmers.
He said the government has initiated a number of interventions like the national manure making campaign, the maize production task force and others to check against food insecurity.
The minister thanked the Chinese government for its untiring efforts of ensuring that the country is self sufficient in food.
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