The Zomba District Agriculture Development Office has encouraged farmers to adopt modern post-harvest management techniques in a significant push to sustain food security in the district.
The call was made by the Chief Agriculture Officer for the Zomba, Misheck Chawala, who highlighted the need to address the losses which severely impact farmers’ livelihoods and food security in general.
The development follows alarming statistics showing that over 40 percent of Malawi’s annual crop production is lost after harvest.
“These losses represent not just a waste of hard work and investment for our farmers, but a major gap in our food security chain. By minimizing what is lost after harvest, we can significantly increase the food available for consumption,” said Chawala.
He attributed the scale of post-harvest loss to traditional storage methods that leave grains vulnerable to pests, mold and damage, but disclosed that the agricultural office has intensified its training programmes through farmer field schools to combat the situation.
According to Chawala, the key focus is promoting eco-friendly grain storage solutions moving away from relying on harmful chemicals and instead utilize safe, sustainable and cost-effective techniques to protect harvested grains from pests while ensuring that the food remains safe for consumption over longer periods.
“In Malawi, more than 40 percent of our production is lost through post-harvest losses. So, we encourage our farmers to be using eco-friendly ways of storage such us hematic sacks and other storage techniques to make sure that the losses are significantly minimized,” he said.
Chawala also highlighted that his office is also mainstreaming food nutrition lessons into their training, specifically targeting the preservation of horticultural crops like vegetables and fruits.
“Teaching farmers how to properly dry, store and process perishable horticultural produce ensures that the nutritional diversity of our food supply is also maintained, leading to better health outcomes for families,” Chawala added.
By empowering farmers with knowledge and practical eco-friendly skills, the district aims to reverse the situation, ensuring that more of the harvested crops reaches the food basket.
