A youth-led organization, Business Agriculture Malawi (BAGMA), has urged the newly elected administration of President Peter Mutharika to introduce new and effective strategies aimed at unlocking the country’s full agricultural potential.

In a statement signed by its president, Blessings Midian Malefula, BAGMA expressed concern that Malawi continues to struggle with food insecurity despite having abundant natural resources capable of making it a global food basket.

The organization has called on the new government to strengthen agricultural research, extension, regulatory, and advisory services.

It proposed that more support be directed to research stations such as Makoka, Kasinthula, Chitedze, and Bvumbwe, as well as to institutions like the Agricultural Research and Extension Trust (ARET).

Furthermore, BAGMA suggested that the government consider merging the Megafarms Support Unit and the Greenbelt Authority into a single institution to effectively oversee megafarm and irrigation farming initiatives.

“It is worth noting that agriculture remains the number one employer globally and in Malawi. This explains why our national development blueprint, Malawi 2063 Vision, prioritizes agricultural productivity and commercialization as key drivers of our country’s growth,” reads part of the statement.

BAGMA is a youth and young-adult farmers’ organization involved in agricultural production and advocacy.