Nthanda Times

Peter Ngwenyama

  • Smallholder farmers urged to use Plant Catalyst to boost yield

    United States (US)-based agro-product company, the Plant Catalyst, has urged smallholder farmers in Malawi to adopt and use Plant Catalyst to boost their yields.

    The company’s Malawi Sales Director, Henry Mwangomba, made the remarks on Wednesday during a field demonstration of Nabulenje Cooperative Farm at Mlonyeni Extension Planning Area in Mchinji.

    He said the product has the capacity to boost farmer’s yield with reduced amount of granule fertilizer applied in the field.

    According to him, the product reduces fertilizer usage by 25 to 35 percent while yield is increased to more than 30 percent, enhancing seed germination as well as good for environment.

    Mwangomba challenged that with the rise of fertilizer prices on the market, the product is a game changer for a smallholder farmer to start using it.

    He said the product is a nutrient absorption enhancer, which is there to help plants ability to absorb and utilize nutrients in the soil.

    In Malawi, the company is working with Pixus Agriculture, Clinton Development Initiative (CDI), World Vision and other agro-dealer companies reaching to about 150,000 farmers across the country.

    Plant Catalyst Malawi Sales Director Henry Mwangomba

    Mwangomba said Plant Catalyst is a  recognized product on the Malawi market as it has gone for trials for  four years with Agriculture Research Extension Services (ARET), Pixus Agriculture and JTI Malawi, while in other countries like Zambia they adopted the chemical seven years ago.

    Nabulenje Cooperative Chairman, Vickious Mwale said they have used their cooperative farm as a demonstration for the product.

    “We have witnessed how the product is working in our farm and there is a big difference with other farms where they did not apply,” he said.

    Plant Catalyst can be applied to tobacco, maize, soya beans, beans, ground nuts and other Horticulture crops among others.

  • Minister Ng’oma fulfills his K1.5m salary promise to Chilobwe residents

    Minister of Homeland Security Ken Zikhale Ng’oma has fulfilled his promise of donating K1.5 million from his salary to Tropical Cyclone Freddy survivors in Chilobwe, Blantyre.

    Speaking during the handover at Naotcha Primary School in Chilobwe on Saturday, Ng’oma said he decided to give the salary to young men who were bold to rescue people in time of disasters.

    “The young men are doing a commendable job to rescue people from the waters as well as taking the dead bodies with inadequate resources,” he said.

    Ng’oma also donated shovels, peaks and hoes worth K200,000 to the young men who are helping in search finding and burying bodies in the area.

    Ng’oma has also pledged to mobilize his friends to donate to the survivors in cash or materials.

    Group Village Headman Chilobwe thanked the minister for the support rendered to them.

    “The young men were kindly assisting us without any payment but this money will help them in many ways,” he said.

    However, Ng’oma becomes the first minister to donate a monthly salary towards cyclone’s survivors.

  • TB fight, leprosy elimination needs more investment

    Deputy Minister of health Halima Daudi has expressed the need for more investment in efforts to fight against tuberculosis (TB) and leprosy in Malawi.

    Daudi was speaking in Mchinji during the commemorations of World TB and Leprosy Elimination Day under the theme:Yes We Can End TB” and Act Now: End Leprosy”

    “Despite numerous investments, more needs to be done if we are to attain our vision of being a Malawi without TB and leprosy in 2030,” she said.

    As a country, Daudi said, we have initiated a number of interventions to ensure that people access TB and leprosy services in their communities.

    The services include house to house TB screening, TB and leprosy contact tracing, mobile diagnostic units as well as community sputum collection points among others.

    She further said Malawi continues to register reduction in a number of people suffering from tuberculosis.

    According to her, the incidences of TB for the country has declined from 338 per 100,000 population in 2010 to 132 in 2021 representing 61 per cent reduction over 11 years.

    Daudi therefore encouraged people to be responsible in ensuring that they are getting tested for Tb if they see signs for the disease.

    World Health Organization (WHO) National Professional Officer responsible for HIV and TB, Ishmael Nyasulu commended Malawi for significant progress in the fight against the two diseases.

    “We also take cognizance of significant investments the government of Malawi has made in diagnostics, health workers skills development and the bold decision to merge TB and leprosy programmes,” he said.

    Nyasulu, however, called for action to policy makers to allocate sufficient resources to improve diagnostic, prevention, treatment, support and empower health workers, expand high quality TB services for children, integrate TB into routine health intervention and ensure TB/leprosy services are maintained.

  • Minister Wirima calls for researchers to come up with innovative solutions for humanitarian crises

    Minister of Education Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima has called upon researchers to come up with innovative solutions to solve the humanitarian crisis through modelling climate change and its impacts.

    Wirima was speaking on Wednesday in Lilongwe during the launch of National Research Agenda (NRA) developed by National Planning Commission (NPC) in collaboration with National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST) with support from Unicef.

    She said through the NRA, environmental sustainability pillar will allow researchers to come up with solutions that will solve the negative impacts of cyclone Freddy which the country is currently facing.

    “I therefore direct the NCST to immediately put up a research call through NRA that will solve negative effects of cyclone Freddy using available resources in the Science and Technology fund,” she said.

    Kambauwa-Wirima addressing participants to the National Research Agenda launch

    Wirima also encouraged youths and Early Career Researchers (ECR) to respond to the call that will evoke the application of predictive Artificial Intelligence (AI) to project occurrence of the natural disasters and help improve preparedness to such catastrophic phenomena.

    She added that effective implementation of NRA will stimulate economic growth and realize Malawi 2063 aspirations.

    Wirima assured that her ministry will advocate and lobby Parliament to prioritize Research, Science, Technology and Innovations (RSTI) if Malawi is to catch up the new pathways of attaining socio-economic development and transformation.

    NCST Chairperson, Professor Emmanuel Kaunda said the scientific world has not done much to be able to state in advance on how to alert people.

    “We want to bring out the young minds which the country has to be able to get into science and technology, artificial intelligence to be able to alert or prepare people if there is a disaster,” he said. 

    Kamanga said the research agenda is key and is providing a platform where all will going to be done in a coordinated manner.

    NPC Director General, Thomas Munthali bemoaned less conduct of research and development of innovations and technologies which could have spurred growth on the country.

    “Perhaps, our research and technological endvours were less informed by what we want and aspire as a country in improving our economic growth and living conditions as well as transformation we aspire,” he said.

    Munthali said the  NRA will provide a strategic focused research, innovation and technologies that should propel Malawi to a future it desires.

    The NRA has been developed to operationalize the research and innovation needs of the country on the quest for the lower middle income economic status by 2030 and an upper middle income Inclusively wealthy and self-reliant by 2063.

  • Government impressed with Joint Program on Girls Education

    Deputy Minister of Education Nancy Chaola Mdooko has said the government is impressed with Joint Program on Girls Education, citing improvement in class attendance, reduction in school dropout, and improved examination pass rate.

    Mdooko made the remarks on Tuesday in Dedza when, together with Deputy Minister of International Development for the Kingdom of Norway, Bjørg Sandkjær, visited Nthulu Primary School, one of the beneficiaries of the Joint Program on Girls Education which is financed by the Norwegian Government.

    “We are impressed with what the program has achieved in all schools where it is implemented,” she said.

    Under the program, 2, 400 teachers went through various continuous professional development initiatives to improve their teaching capacity.

    Through the programme, the Ministry of Education is working with multiple partners including United Nations Agencies such as UNFPA, UNICEF and WFP to holistically address girls, boys and vulnerable learners’ education needs. 

    Beneficiary schools are giving nutritious meals to learners, to keep them stay in school, a program.

    Mdooko also applauded the beneficiary schools for providing market to farming communities, which, in turn, has improved financial status of communities and enable them to support learner’s needs as parents.

    In her remarks, Deputy Minister of International Development for the Kingdom of Norway, Bjørg Sandkjær, said Norway is committed to continuing supporting the initiative, which has positively impacted on Malawi’s education standards by keeping learners at school.

    “We are impressed with what the program has achieved and it is in line with what Norway wants to have no one left behind,” she said.

    While United Nations Resident Representative to Malawi, Rebecca Adah Donto, said UN remains committed to continue supporting the program through its agencies.

    “The program is motivating learners to stay in school and become responsible citizens thereafter through digital Life Skills lesson which they are receiving through tablets distributed by the program,” Donto said.

  • Cardiovascular camp postponed due to cyclone Freddy effects

    The Tanzania High Commission has postponed the International Joint Medical camp on cardiovascular care, which was scheduled to take place 20th to 25th March, 2023 due to cyclone Freddy effects.

    According to Tanzania High Commissioner Humphrey Hesron Polepole, as a result the camp has been shifted to a week starting on 17th to 21st April, 2023.

    “The medical personnel at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital are stretched with the disasters caused by Cyclone Freddy,” he said.

    Polepole said they thought in a month’s time the situation will be settled a little bit hence the shift.

    The Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute medical team in collaboration with the Malawi medical team is expected to reach out to 448 patients with heart conditions currently on the waiting list to be assisted.

  • NPC, NCST to launch National Research Agenda

    The National Planning Commission (NPC) in collaboration with National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST) will launch the National Research Agenda (NRA) as one of the strategic catalysts for the implementation of Malawi 2063’s first 10 year plan (MIP-1).

    The launch will be held on Wednesday in Lilongwe.

    Speaking during a press conference on Monday in Lilongwe ahead of NRA launch, NPC Research Manager, Dr Andrew Jamali, said the document will provide guidance to researchers, academic institutions, local and international researchers and policy makers in generating knowledge, technologies and innovations that will build a knowledge-based economy for Malawi.

    “This is a key resource material which will guide us as the nation to look on how we should implement, mobilize resources on specific
    interventions in the vision,” he said.

    Jamali said NRA will also help to create order in the research space as it has provided contents and priorities, which will be followed to
    address the needs of the country.

    National Planning Commission (NPC) Research Manager Dr Andrew Jamali, NCST Chief Research Service Officer Mike Kachedwa and Unicef Research specialist Abiba Ngwira announcing the launch of NRA during a press conference in Lilongwe

    NCST Chief Research Service Officer Mike Kachedwa said NRA is holistic and its research pillars within it are aligned with the Malawi 2063.

    “It contains specific research pillars and topical themes under which research studies will be drawn for implementation,” he said.

    Kachedwa added that the implementation of the Malawi 2063 is very critical inorder for the country to transform.

    With support from Unicef, NRA is there to operationalize the Malawi 2063.

    Research and Evaluation Specialist at Unicef, Dr Abiba Longwe Ngwira, said the agency supported the entire development of the NRA
    technically and financially.

    “We expect that the document will promote the use of evidence in decision making,” she said.

    Ngwira said NRA will further promote the use of evidence to inform various types of development goals or interventions which need the
    multi-sectoral approach.

  • Farm Radio Trust to launch Mlimi Radio on March 26

    The Farm Radio Trust (FRT) has announced the launch of Mlimi Radio, which has been established to provide up-to-date and accurate information to farmers for sustainable livelihoods.

    The launch will take place on Saturday, 26th March, 2023 in Lilongwe.

    FRT Chief Executive Officer George Vilili said the radio will offer a wide range of services including airing of radio programs, production of special programs, documentaries, adverts, jingles, news and current affairs.

    “Our goal as a national radio is to reach every part of Malawi and provide digital agriculture extension services,” he said.

    Vilili: The radio will offer a wide range of services

    Vilili added that the launch marks the official opening of the radio station that has been testing its signal and reach for the past four months.

    The radio station is now operational in 15 districts of the country and hopes to roll out in the remaining districts in few months, he said.

    Vilili further said the station has been aligned with the Malawi 2063 especially in the Agriculture and Commercialization pillar.

    The Trust was awarded a national commercial sound license by Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) in July 2021.

  • Tanzania donates $1m, helicopters, food and humanitarian assistance to Malawi

    The Republic of Tanzania has donated a cash support amounting $1million to Malawi towards national disasters caused by cyclone Freddy.

    A statement from Tanzanian High Commission to Malawi available to Nyasa Times on Friday said they will also provide two heavy duty helicopters for search and rescue mission as well as 100 service men for the mission and assorted relief items for cyclone Freddy survivors in southern part of Malawi.

    “The Commission would like to convey heartfelt condolences from the President of Tanzania, Her Excellency Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan to the President Lazarus Macathy Chakwera, government and the people of Malawi for the loss of life, destruction of properties and public infrastructure following the devastation by heavy rains and winds caused by cyclone Freddy,” it reads.

    The statement further said: “We pray for the departed souls to rest in eternal peace and the injured to have a speedy recovery.”

    The statement, however, said the High Commission avails itself of the opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Malawi the assurance assurance of its highest consideration.

    Recently, President Chakwera appealed for local and international support to the disaster stricken districts where over 300 lives have been lost, several people injured and property damaged.

  • Deputy SPC emphasizes need for effective M&E to achieve aspirations

    Deputy Secretary for President and Cabinet (D/SPC) Dr. Janet Banda has emphasized the need for an effective monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system as well as capacities to achieve the country’s development aspirations.

    Banda made the remarks on Wednesday in Lilongwe during the official opening of the first-ever National M&E week organized by National Planning Commission (NPC) and its stakeholders.

    She said the week provides a platform for M&E stakeholders, civil society organizations (CSOs), the private sector, academic institutions, independent evaluators, researchers, development partners and policymakers to work together in improving monitoring and evaluation in Malawi. 

    “It is imperative that we join hands to strengthen the capacities and use of evaluation results if we are to implement programs that will graduate this country into middle income by 2030,” she said.

    Director of Research and Outreach at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Samson Katengeza

    Banda further said research that adopts and use monitoring are on the rise. However, evaluations have not been given much attention in the development space.

    She added that there are positive effects that evaluations have had on the country’s development programming by informing new programmes and the effectiveness of those being scaled up.

    She cited examples of school feeding program and social protection programs that are being scaled up with the latter being integrated with the unified beneficiary registry as a result of evaluation recommendations.

    Malawi has its plan, well defined, and a long term vision, the Malawi 2063 with its first 10 year Implementation Plan (MIP-1) which needs both monitoring and evaluation for progress.

    Banda however highlighted areas that government is working on to show commitment to M&E not just as a routine fiduciary activity to please financiers but an important and imperative development management tool.

    In his keynote address, Director of Research and Outreach at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Dr Samson Katengeza said there has been a tremendous progress in issues of M&E.

    “So far we have seen a number of policy changes as a result of M&E data,” he said.

    Katengeza said in the past there were no coordinated efforts in the use of M&E but recently there have been progress where a number of policies have been made out of well evidence.

    He said M&E week is a very good progress that will be able to see a better implementation towards the achievement of the Malawi 2063 aspirations.

    NPC M&E Manager Austin Chingwengwe said the week will help raise the profile of monitoring and evaluation.

    “We are also looking at the policies to strengthen the M&E in the country,” he said.

    The M&E week was also marked by the awarding of Evaluation Competition winners.

    The M&E week will be commemorated annually under different themes.