Malawians challenged to embrace megafarming

Malawians have been urged to take a keen interest in megafarming as a strategy to improve both household incomes and the national economy.

This call was made by Simplex Chithyola Banda, Chairperson of Namuleri Farm Limited, during a tour of his farm in Kasungu District by members of the Association of Business Journalists (ABJ).

Banda emphasized that embracing megafarming is key to unlocking Malawi’s economic potential, especially amid the country’s current financial hardships.

As Malawi’s Minister of Finance and Economic Development, he believes that expanding agricultural trade and investing in diverse value chains could transform the economy through increased exports.

“Our economy is agro-based, so we must boost production to meet both local and international market demands while also creating job opportunities,” said Banda.

He also dismissed concerns about the decline of tobacco farming due to anti-smoking campaigns led by international health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO).

“Tobacco will remain Malawi’s largest foreign exchange earner. The future of the industry is bright due to the high demand for Malawian tobacco on the global market,” he added.

Meanwhile, Arthur Chokotho, President of the Association of Business Journalists (ABJ), echoed Banda’s sentiments on the importance of increased production to strengthen the economy.

“Forex should not be viewed as a commodity—it must be earned through production. The only way to secure forex is by producing more and doing it efficiently,” Chokotho stated.

Namuleri Farm Limited spans over 300 hectares and has diversified into multiple value chains, including maize, tobacco, livestock, fisheries, and vegetables.

The farm employs between 200 and 300 workers.