Former VP Kachali, Kamlepo, Makowa Mwale Questions Put On Hold Until President Avail In The House

The Malawi former Vice President, Khumbo Kachale, Kamlepo Kalua and Everson Andrew Makowa Mwale have joined opposition leader, Lazarus Chakwera by reserving their questions until President Peter Mutharika finds time to avail himself in the House to answer their questions.

Questions directed to President from both Kachali legislature for Mzimba South-West and Kamlepo for Rumphi East are on status of food situation in the country while question from Makowa Mwale for Nkhotakota-South East is on progress to identify a cash crop that replaces tobacco.

Minister of Agriculture, Allan Chiyembekeza was delegated to answer the questions although they were seeking direct reply from the President in the House.

Before reserving his question on Friday afternoon just before the House moved the motion to adjourn Sine Die, former vice president Khumbo Kachali sought guidance of Speaker of the National Assembly, Richard Msowoya if the President act to delegate Minister was not contravening Standing Order of 2013 (201) "Where the President is required to respond to questions in accordance with the provision of section 89 (3C) of the constitution he or she may not delegate such functions to a member of Cabinet." 

However, Speaker guided Kachali that the cited section of Constitution provision, chapter 89 .3 further indicates that the President shall respond to questions only when he is addressing the House each year before the consideration of the official budget where he report on the future policies of Government and the policies of the previous year.

“That is what in Parliamentary language is termed as State of the National Address. And during that time the President shall not delegate questions." He said, "Under any other provision, whether the House does request the president to come through resolution or would like the president to come at any point to answer a question not related to provision 89 .3, he is allowed to delegate the questions.” Clarified the Speaker

Accepting the ruling by the speaker, Khumbo said "I will reserve my question until when I see the President in this Honorable House. I know he is a busy person but he will find time"

Kalua: President not to Minister 

When time came for Kamlepo Kalua to ask his question, he  stood to say; "My question is to ask the President not a Minister, to explain to the Nation, the President not the Minister, through this House about the food situation in this country. The President, not the Minister." He said, "And I will go with the decision of the other two speakers that it will be a waste of time for me to ask the Minister when I said the President... this question is directed to the President..."

Nkhotakota South East, Everson Andrew Makowa Mwale also opted to chose the decision made by Kachali and Kaua.

“What Nkhotakota-South East was looking for is HE's perspective" he said, "If the Minister replies, there will be some supplementary questions that honorable ministers will be in a position to consult the President to get his perspective on those supplementary questions so I therefore I would like to pend my question until the President avail himself to answer it"

On Wednesday, Leader of Opposition, Lazarus Chakwera also reserved his question to President on the same reason that he would rather wait until such a time the President avail himself in the House to answer the question. 

These reactions prompted Minister of Health Peter Kumpalume to ask Speaker if the House would prefer the President to write response then read in the House by the Minister and if the House feels that the Ministers are too general to answer questions.

Responding to the first question the speaker's said, that will be another form of delegating question.

But the Finance Minister, Goodall Gondwe also stood to express point that it would not dignify the President to come in the House to answer questions because there would be some follow up questions that may just be asked to humiliate the President.

Govt Commends JTI Leaf For Launching Food Aid Initiative Targeting 3, 500 Households

Allan Chiyembekeza, Fries Vanneste
Handing ovet maize to beneficiary 

Malawi Government hails one of the leading tobacco buying company, JTI for coming up with food humanitarian response program targeting 3, 3500 households across the country. 

Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Alllan Chiyembekeza commended the JTI on Wednesday when launching the initiative at Namitete in the area of Traditional Authority Kalolo in Lilongwe.

Beneficiaries from T/A Kalolo

For a period of three months, JTI Drought Relief Program will involve distribution of food ratios to tobacco growers and their dependants even other families who are not in tobacco farming.

Allan Chiyembekeza

Allan Chiyembekeza said this is a welcome idea at this time when up to 3 million Malawians are experiencing hunger due to droughts and floods.

“Well it’s a very welcome idea, remember we have been talking that we are in a crisis, so many people need food and I don’t think Government alone can manage, this is why JTI decided to came forward to assist government on one side to assist by distributing this food to their farmers.’’ Said Chiyembekeza

An old woman, Magene Chisenga from Lemwe village got her first ration at the launch and could not hide her excitement “Am very happy to receive this food.’’

‘’This is like a dream, our eating pattern changed; we would eat today and go without food the next day so the life has been like that, for so many days I and my five grand children have been going to bed without food.” Narrates Chisenga, and continued ‘‘We never knew where we are going to get food but now I know that this night we are going to eat and I am assured that we will eat for the next three months.”

Fries Vanneste 

Speaking at the launch, Managing Director for JTI, Fries Vanneste said their humanitarian response comes after the company’s leaf technicians had made a national wide assessment of the severity of the drought and food situation in communities where JTI buy its tobacco.

“The reason to embark on this project is our contractual relationship we have with the farmers called pure IPS. IPS is not only looking after contracts with the farmer just to buy the tobacco but also looking further on the interests and their wellbeing as farmers and their families.” Said Vanneste

He mentioned that the estimated target of 3, 500 households translates to 24 thousand people beneficiaries who includes the elderly, widows, single-headed families and youths.

According to Vanneste, every month, every household will get one 50kg bag of maize, one 10kg bag of beans and 2 litres of vegetable oil. He also indicated that the project will cost about US$310, 000, involving total of 525 tons of maize and 105 tons of beans.

Up to 89,203 households are estimated to be in hunger in Lilongwe district alone, according to Lilongwe district Principal Administration Officer, Mariette Kadewere. Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee report of 2015 indicated that over 2.8 million Malawians requires humanitarian response following adverse weather conditions that the country experienced in early 2015, which resulted in declining production of maize and other food crops across the country.

Chiyembekeza Fails To Account For Questionable Sale Of Tractors, Maize Sheller’s

• Tractors meant for farm mechanisation by smallholder farmers were sold to former Vice President, present and former cabinet ministers, PS, Legislatures including Speaker and some companies

• Agriculture Minister failed to disclose amount realised, price for each tractor and Maize Shellers and how the realised funds were used

• Parliamentarians demands names of owners of companies that bought some tractors and views the sale as political

Kamulepo

Some opposition legislature’s have demanded total accountability and reasons that led to the sale of part of 177 Tractors and 144 Maize Shellers meant for farm mechanisation by smallholder farmers.

Members of Parliament (MP’s) also wants to know actual amount realised and how the proceeds from the sale of tractors and maize shellers were used including value of each machinery during the sale versus cost of buying of each item by Government some years ago.

However, of Minister Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development responsible to answer all those questions was so furious at the inquisitive legislatures and only gave what he said was what the House needed to know about the matter.

The matter was brought in the House following the question from Honourable Member for Rumphi East, Kamulepo Kalua to Allan Chiyembekeza, Minister of Agriculture on the Status and whereabouts of the Tractors and Maize Shellers which the country acquired sometime back from India. 

The legislature said wanted to know why the country’s smallholder farmers are still failing to do their farming using modern equipments especially tractors.

In his detailed account of number of the matter Minister said a total of 77 tractors went to Government Institutions which are ADD’s across the country; Karonga ADD got 6 tractors, Mzuzu ADD got 13 tractors, Kasungu got 15 tractors, Salima ADD got 6 tractors, Lilongwe ADD got 11 tractors, Machinga ADD got 8 tractors, Blantyre ADD got 11 tractors and Shire Valley ADD got 7 tractors. 

Chiyembekeza said the second part involves 31 Tractors, 13 Maize Shellers, 23 Tripping Shellers and 8 Seed Cam Fertiliser Applicators that were issued out to Government Departments and Institutions. These were; Crops Department (Horticulture Farm), Natural Resources College, National Food Reserve Agency, Department of Agriculture Research, Department of Animal Health, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Green Belt Initiative.

But the house was in disarray when he mentioned that some tractors were sold to companies, individuals and some farming associations without clear explanation of what prompted the sale and how that profited Government.

Chiyembekeza said, Tractors and implements sold in the first half of the offer went to 31 individuals and businesses. Among them Government officers who includes; Clement Kumbemba (current Executive Director of Malawi Investment Trade Centre MITC) and Rashid Mtelera (from OPC). Companies includes; Anachuma Holdings, IS Fred Limited, Green Leaf Association, Kasinthula Cane Growers and Wuli Trading Company.

In the second half sold to individuals including Francis Kasaila Minister of Transport, Honorable Khumbo Kachali former Vice President, Godfrey Ching’oma Malawi Congress Party MP, Richard Msowoya current speaker of National Assembly and Samuel Madula from OPC among others. 

But the minister was not clear to demands on how funds were used, what exactly lead to the sale of the tractors and who authorised it.

Salima Central legislature Felix Jumbe proposed that since some names are of high rank officials from Government there should be an inquiry as to how they conformed to the procurement system.

Responding on this, Agriculture Minister said the equipments were sold to Malawians after normal tender was opened to anyone and applications were reviewed. He said some Government Ministries and departments were represented in a Committee that was chaired by Office of President and Cabinet (OPC).

He said the committee made equipment evaluation and restricted nobody from the floated tender. But mostly, he said small and medium enterprises with a minimum land of 5 hectares were eligible to buy.

However, Kamulepo Kalua who brought the matter said was not satisfied with the explanation 

He said, he still wants names of directors of some companies named and suspects that those names have been deliberately concealed to prevent exposure of some top government officials.

Kamulepo emphasised that the sale was worrisome considering that the tractors were acquired through loan to support smallholder farmers do farm mechanisation to help country’s food security.

Leader of House, Francis Kasaila said Kamulepo is continously making very serious allegations which are demeaning the president by alleging that President is doing corruption and that he recently bought some vehicles dubiously. He asked the member to present his evidence by Friday or withdraw his statement.

However, Kamulepo said he did not mention President and he is not going to withdral his remarks because in his remarks he never metioned President. Instead he said he mentioned Presidential assistance at State House as the ones who are among people who bought the tractors and recently bought the said vehicles.

However, Kasaila insisted on his point saying the member knows that Presidential assistance do not stay at state house and therefore mentioning State House he meant president at all cost.

This forced Second Deputy Speaker Clement Chiwaya to make ruling that Kalua should bring the evidence to the House on Friday.

Later Salima South Uladi Mussa rose and complained that the sale never saved the purpose of the loan.

This was echoed by Malawi Congress Party Chief Whip Lobin Lowe who inquired about value of each tractor when sold versus cost of buying it.

Members insisted to get clear information    and it was that insistence which forced AgricuAgriculture Minister to read the full list of beneficiaries. However members still feel that the names are doctored and that the tractors sale was against the purpose of buying them.

Earlier, the minister indicated that the tractors when procured in 2011 were supposed to increase the existing tractors in ADD's and offer some tractors to farmer groups and Malawian farmers through sale to increase ownership of tractors.

He thereforw said 69 tractors were offered for sale in 2014 and later sold 37 other tractors early this year by tender.

Full list

First half sale of tractors and trailers

Clement Kumbemba
Peter Zimba
Anachuma Holdings
IS Fred Limited
Balaka Market Resource Centre
Prince Nyirenda
Green Leaf Association
Alfred Nkhono
FISD
R.E. Enterprises
Mirriam Pamam
ISAM
Invesco Farms
Kasinthula Cane Growers
Wuli Trading Company
Mishek G Essau
Spencer W. D Ng’oma
Peter H Shawa
Mulli Enterprises
J. Manong’a
A. Y. Namaona
Grey Nyandule Phiri
Christine Mtambo
Moffat J. Chitimbe
Dr. I Benence
Hillario R. Chimota
Bright B. Kumwembe
Gerald A. Kachepa
Steve Donda
W. G. Lipita
Rashid R. Mtelera

Tractors and Implements sold in the second half

Tisi Nthukwa
Francis Enoch Juwawo
Richard Makondi
Tapiwa Phiri
James Maseko
Ronny Phiri
Mrs. Dorothy Mataya
Ms. Mada Sambo
Francis I Kasaila
M. F Kanjere
B.B.C Majoni
Ben Botolo
Thomas Makiwa
Arthur A. M. Liwonga
Hon. Khumbo Kachali
Peter Fret
Godfrey P. N. Ching’oma
Dorothy Chimatiro
Grant C. Kapiya
M. I Chikuntha
Newby Henry Kumwembe
Chisomo Farms
Ephraim Chiume
William Kantayeni
Dr. Lovemore
Mr. I. J Luhanga
Mrs. I. J Luhanga
Hon. Richard Msowoya
Nditse V. Kampane
Tcholose Simwaka
 Margaret Loka Mauwa
Mr. Peter K. Simbani
D. G K. Mtupa
James C. G. Ali
Eddie Makungwa
Samuel Madula
Charles Kambauwa

ARET, Chitedze Research De-linked From LUANAR

The National Assembly passes the bill detaching Agriculture Research Trust (ARET) and Chitedze Research Station from the Lilongwe University oAgriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR).

The two delinked institutions and the two colleges of Bunda College of Agriculture and Natural Resources College were joined during Bingu Wa Mutharika administration forming Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR).

Minister of Agriculture Irrigation and Water Development, Allan Chiyembekeza said during the Second Reading of the Bill 'Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Amendment)', that excluding the two institutions from forming LUANAR the country stands to benefit more.  

"Despite delinking of Chitedze and ARET from LUANAR, there will be strong collaboration between these two institutions and LUANAR on research technology, dissemination as well as teaching.

Staff from these institutions should be allowed to teach at LUANAR, conduct research and supervising research but with agreed time allocations and associated rewards while retaining their core functions over bride research to address national agricultural research problems." Said Chiyembekeza

He further told the house that the amended legislation apart from enabling ARET and Chitedze Research Station maintain their identities and core functions, said ARET will return its mandate of promoting tobacco production and remain as a centre of excellence for tobacco and no loss of jobs at both institutions;

"Government control of the National Agriculture Research Agenda will be maintained, the cost of relocating Regulatory and Technical the functions from Chitedze Research Station and ARET and Re-orientation of the other research stations will be avoided and the future of the international Agriculture Research Centres that are based at Chitedze Research Station will also be ensured." he added

The minister mentioned that integrating Chitedze Research Station into LUANAR would have brought more negative implications which includes: loss of Government control of the National Agriculture Research Agenda; High cost of relocating Regulatory, Technical and the Advisory functions from Chitedze; 

“Shifting priority for Agriculture Research, re-orientation of the rest of the research stations in the ministry, uncertainty over the livestock of research and infrastructure and uncertainty over the future on the international agriculture research centres that are housed at Chitedze Research centre." He said

The minister also noted that Government created ARET as the model for Public Private Partnership which the country needs to learn from and replicate to continue championing in the production of tobacco in this country.

Responding to the bill, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) spokesperson on Agriculture, Felix Jumbe made no objection to the provisions in the bill.

However, Jumbe said; "Including Chitedze in LUANAR it was a quite an anomaly. We would rather wish Chitedze become a Commission and excluded from Ministry of Agriculture"

Similarly, People's Party (PP) shadow Minister of Agriculture, Dr. James Munthali supported the bill but taunted the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Government for making a u-turn over the decision it made some years ago.

ARET was established in 1995 through a Trust deed with the ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development and Tobacco Association of Malawi (TAMA) as donors and trustees. TAMA and some stakeholders in the tobacco industry resisted the integration of ARET into LUANAR.

Malawi's 2014/2015 Crop Estimates Worrisome

• 223 thousand Metric tones of Maize deficit including other cash crops

• Animal husbandry registered an increase 

• Government playdown hunger fears

The Malawi crop estimates for the 2014/2015 season are worrisome as the Agriculture Production Estimates Survey (APES 2014/2015) reveal a decrease in almost every crop grown in the country.

Ministry of Agriculture survey indicates that maize production decreased from 3.978 million metric tons realized in 2013/2014 agricultural season to 2.776 million metric tons in the current agricultural season representing 30.2 percent decline in production.

The new figure is a bit lower from the second round where the Ministry estimated maize production at 2.876 million metric tons.

However, Government maintains that the results should not scare people as mitigation measures are in place to ensure that no one die of hunger this year. 

Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Honorable Allan Chiyembekeza said during the news conference that based on the national maize requirement, now the actual national maize deficit for the country is 223,723 metric tons.

“The just ended season was not favorable for agriculture for two reasons; we had very heavy rains which unfortunately started late and resulted in serious flooding, and if that was not enough, barely a month or later we had a very dry spell” said Chiyembeka when presenting the final crop estimates in Lilongwe.

“Because of that definitely our harvest for this past year hasn’t been that good and that’s why the results have registered a reduction in yield of almost all the crops we grow in this country” he said

Malawi’s maize requirement based on the population projection and industrial use for the year is at about 3 million metric tons. National maize requirement, 2.563 million metric tons is for food use only while the rest is required for seed, feed and industrial use; and replenishment of the Strategic Grain Reserve. 

Thought this year’s crop production seem to be bad news for the nation, Hon. Chiyembekeza has assured that there is no need for panic

“But I know that we also eat other food crops. If we diversify our meals to other food crops, there will be less impact of hunger in the country.” Said Chiyembekeza 

The Minister further indicated that the third round Agriculture Production Estimates Survey (APES 2014/2015) results also show that production of other major food crops such as rice, millet, cassava and sorghum is down. However, potatoes and sweet potatoes have increased by 4.1% and 2.7%, respectively.

Some cash crops have registered decreases including cotton which is down by 40.1% while groundnuts production is down by 25.4%. 

In terms of livestock, Chiyembekeza said, the population of cattle has increased from 1.316 million to 1.398 million representing 6.1 percent increase as compared to the final round for the 2013/2014 agricultural season. 

Mitigation Measures to Counteract Food Deficit

The agriculture minister has assured that Government through the Ministry had put in place several mitigation measures to offset anticipated food deficits.

Honorable Allan Chiyembekeza said with funding from the World Bank Multi-Donor Trust Fund amounting to about MK401 Million (US$900,000) implemented the Cassava and Sweet Potato Production Program as a response to the floods and dry spells. The area planted with cassava and sweet potato totals about 5,000 ha. 

Chiyembekeza said, 500,000 Metric tons of maize harvest is expect from winter cropping following the distribution of agricultural inputs to farmers for irrigation farming by Ministry and number of Development Partners, NGOs, and private sector.

He further mentioned that Government is expected to buy about 115,000 metric tons of maize from MK15 billion that was allocated in the national budget for procuring maize to meet food need of the population. 

Chiyembekeza then said that National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) will procure maize using as platforms the Agricultural Commodity Exchange (ACE) and the Auction Holdings Commodity Exchange (AHCX). NFRA has since started holding auctions on the platforms but contracts are yet to be awarded to potential suppliers

The Minister also mentioned that to date, ADMARC has borrowed MK1.8 billion which is being used to procure maize

“As of 3rd August, ADMARC had bought 9,814 metric tons of maize at an average price of MK110 per kg translating into a total cost of MK1.09 billion. The remaining funds (MK0.7 billion) are expected to buy about 6,400 metric tons.

“Therefore, with budget funds and ADMARC resources totaling MK16.8 billion, Government will be able to buy 126,000 metric tons of maize.” He aid

“In addition, Government bought 30,000 metric tons from Zambia and mandated ADMARC to uplift it into the Country. So far, 6,164 metric tons of the 30,000 metric tons has been lifted into the country. It is expected that the rest of the tonnage will be in the country by end of September.” Said Chiyembekeza

FISP Farmer Contribution Total Cost Increased to K8,500

If you are Malawian smallholder farmer waiting to buy cheap fertilizer and seeds from the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP) please adjust your budget. 

Malawian smallholder farmer should expect to deep more in the pocket as their cost of contribution towards the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP) has gone up by 600% per each bag of fertilizer.

Previous years, each 50kg bag of fertilizer for FISP was costing K500, now Government has decided to put each bag of fertilizer at K3500 translating a total cost of K7000 (seven thousand kwacha) for Urea and NPK fertilizer bags.

That is not all, as 5kg packet of maize Seed will cost K1000 and for a packet of legume seed farmers will contribute K500.  

Now, FISP beneficiaries should be spending K8,500 for the programme.

Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Hon. Allan Chiyembekeza announced the changes at Capital Hill in Lilongwe saying this follows reforms that government has taken in response to calls.

“This year, the programme beneficiaries will be contributing quite substantial amount of money” he said before announcing the new costs

“We as Government have been pushed left and right because everybody continued to say that we are spending too much money on the Farm Input Subsidy at the expense of other Government programmes which we understood and to some extent agreed” said Chiyembekeza.

He said; “So there was need for some kind of reforms in the Farm Input Subsidy Programme.” 

Justifying the adjustments Chiyembekeza said “All this has been done in response to the outcry because this is what many people wanted including donors that at least we would want to make contribution of the farmer to be seen to be reasonable so that at least they can also feel that they are part of the programme” 

Previous years, a farmer was contributing K500 (five hundred kwacha) for each fertilizer bag and it costs them K1000 (one thousand kwacha) for two bags. And for seed maize, it was K150 while legume seeds were given out for free because there was support from development partners on seed part. However this year the Minister revealed that “We still haven’t been assured whether there is going to be that support”

The Agriculture Minister also indicated that as part of reforms in the programme, the private sector will be involved in the supply, distribution and direct retail of some of the fertilizer earmarked for seven selected districts as pilot.

“We are doing this as a pilot because we don’t know whether it will work as people anticipate. So we don’t want to put all our eggs in one basket. If this proves to be more cost effective and more efficient than the system we have always used, definitely future farm input subsidy programmes will be used through this system” he said

But Chiyembekeza clarified that the remainder of the districts will follow the same old system where Smallholder Farmers Fertiliser Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) and ADMARK will be markets for the FISP fertilizer.

He also hinted that procurement of fertilizer will be done by SFFRFM but evaluation for the bids of fertilizer which opened on 31st July 2015 will either be completed end of this week or early next week.

Honorable Chiyembekeza indicated that bids for transport will be done this Friday 7th August 2015. 

However,  the Minister said beneficiary identification will be done in due course by special identification system. 

He said,  government has registered already all farmers across the country that grow maize with land holding capacity of 5 hectares maximum. He said the 1. 5 million beneficiaries will be devided by the total number of maize farmers then the given percentage is going to be applied to all villages.  He added from such system chiefs will not identify the beneficiarys and that those that will benefit this year will be removed from the system to pave way for other farmers. He said this system will remove issues of favouritism during identification of beneficiaries. 

FISP will clock 11 years since its implementation, with an aim of achieving food self sufficiency and increased income of resource poor farmers through increased maize and legume production.

The 2015/2016 budget allocated K41.5 billion for the programme targeting 1.5 million beneficiaries. From the budget, Government will procure and subsidize 150 thousand metric tonnes of fertilizer where; 75 thousand metric tonnes will be for NPK fertilizer and another 75 thousand metric tonnes of fertiliser will be for Urea.

Malawi Sign Numerous Deals During MIF… Full Report Ready By Friday- Mwanamvekha

The Malawi Government describes its first ever Malawi Investment Forum (MIF) a 'success' having signed so many deals with foreign investors.

Minister of Industry and Trade, Joseph Mwanamvekha whose ministry has been coordinating to host the forum has since described the forum as huge success and promised ready to release full detailed and comprehensive report on the deals made in the Forum by Friday this week.

"Deals have been done, some of them (Investors) have just indicated their interest" said Mwanamvekha before the Communiqué was read out.

Mwanamvekha who was accompanied by three other ministers at Bingu International Conference Centre to deliver the Communiqué said close to US$ 1.5 million deals have been realized. He also said other deals will be made in the near future and at the time of issuing the Communiqué more discussions with investors were taking place and that some more will be happening in week's time.

He said other projects that investors have expressed interest require feasibility studies.

The Trade Minister boasts "From our perspective and from comments received, this forum was success because we managed to market Malawi"

He said investors managed to identify the opportunities and most of them were interested in Energy and mining sector, Infrastructure and Agriculture sectors.

Minister of Transport and Public Works, Francis Kasaila said he was impressed with number of interested investors in the transport sector including; Japanese Investment Institution Hitoch Corporation which is interested in number of projects; Elactra from Uganda interested Airport City in Lumbadzi, rail rehabilitation, marine and power projects among other number of investments and the company has promised to be back for more discussions in two weeks time.

"But the most important thing in the infrastructure sector is that we have been able to expose our local investors to financing institutions and in this regard the meetings we had with Economic Bank of Africa is one of them which has given the opportunities to local investors that they can send proposals and get financing and they have made it clear that they are ready to finance projects that are past with feasibility studies and we have number of projects that have gone past that." Said Kasaila

Taking his turn, Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Allan Chiyembekeza said there is a investor interested in production of ethanol as well as production of glucose and starch from maize and that they are looking for huge quantities for maize.

The minister said discussions are underway and that once the deal is on, Malawian farmer will benefit much as the company is looking for quantities in excess of 350 thousand metric tonnes per year used to produce ethanol.

He said another company is interested in producing fertilizer and that another company from Zimbabwe, is interested to invest in chicken farming especially dealing with youth.

Unfortunately he said there was no investor interested in irrigation agriculture, "With the climate change problems we are facing in this country, I think we will be moving towards the intensification of irrigation agriculture." he then invited those with resources and interest to come forth and invest in this area.

Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Bright Msaka said in Energy sector numerous investors have expressed interest as well. He said "I can say here and without hesitation that if we were to consolidate anything that we have received we will be fully satisfied to our energy need"

He indicated that some investors have expressed interest in providing financing in energy sector while others are interested in providing technical services in the sector.

Msaka confidently said "We created enough curiosity" by people interested in mining industry to come and explore more

"For many years Malawi has not been known as the mining nation, but we are the mining nation in view of amount of deposits that we have." Said Msaka who further assured the gathering and asked to spread the word that "there is enough minerals in Malawi to last us many years to come"