AUSTIN NKHOMA

  Figure 1. Temporary Enumertor advert from CARD-LUANAR. On 26 June, 2024 was like any other day when shortlisted candidates were moving to their respective EPAS they applied for to sit for their aptitude test interviews on Agricultural Commercialization (AGCOM) project that the government of Malawi through Ministry of Agriculture is implementing. The project aims at conducting digital registration, profiling and geo-mapping of farmers across all districts in Malawi that will be done at an EPA level starting from 01-30 July, 2024. The results were expected to be out on 27 June, 2024 morning but have been given to candidates at 2 pm the same day. Figure 2. A list of successful candidates at Madisi EPA in Dowa. Center for Agricultural Research and Development (CARD) is a research institute of Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources running this project including the aptitude test conducted on 26 June, 2024. The test was online making it more confidential as even lead...

Malawi a landlocked country in South Easter Africa has got different land attributes; highlands and extensive lakes with wide range of soils. To the east is Lake Malawi accounts for more than 1/5 of the country's total areas providing opportunities to Lakeshore areas to produce a lot of rice. Here in Malawi Rice is mostly produced in Lakeshore areas (Salima, Nkhotakota, Nkhataby, Karonga and Bwanje in Dedza), Lower shire areas (Chikwawa and Nsanje), Along lake Chilwa (Machinga, Zomba and Mangochi), Mchinji and Mzimba. Figure 1. Growing rice at Kafulu EPA  Although all these districts produce rice, productivity does not meet the expected yields as national average yields is 1.2 Mt/ha against potentials of >5 tons per ha with good management, according to rice report for Malawi from the Department of Crop Development and Ministry of Agriculture. Rice being source of carbohydrates it is second staple food crop to Maize for the country it was commonly consumed in the past only in ur...

Photo 1. A Smallholder farmers' groundnuts field with maize next to it in Dowa. We are living in a digital world where information travels across boundaries at a speed of light. ICT refers to forms of technology that are used to transmit, process, store, create, display, share or exchange information by electronic means. Here in Malawi number of sectors are now enjoy using information and communication technologies in their operations of day today activities. These sectors include; education, security, industrial and Tourism sectors and agricultural sector inclusive. ICTs plays important role in agricultural sector by ensuring that there is easily access and sharing of information related to agriculture. Radio and mobile phones are the most available and most used ICT devices among smallholder farmers (Sennugas S. O. et al., 2020). Photo 2. Shows a mobile phone breaking language and geographical barriers. ICT INITIATIVES IN MALAWI IN RELATION TO AGRICULTURE SECTOR   With focus on a...