AHCX signs market facilitation agreement with Land O’ Lakes

  • AHCX signs market facilitation agreement with Land O’ Lakes

    Malawi’s open market for agriculture commodities, AHL Commodities Exchange (AHCX), has signed an agreement with Land O’ Lakes under which the two institutions have agreed to collaborate in the development of markets for fruits and vegetables to be produced by local farmers with support from Land O’ Lakes.

    AHCX board chairperson, Evans Matabwa, and Land O’ Lakes Malawi’s Country Director, Timothy Nzioka, signed the agreement on Wednesday in Lilongwe at the launch of Land O’ Lakes’ Malawi Strengthening Inclusive Markets for Agriculture (Msika) project funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to the tune of US$17 million.

    The five-year project, whose launch was presided over by Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Joseph Mwanamvekha, will be implemented in five districts of the country, namely Lilongwe, Dedza, Mchinji, Ntcheu and Mangochi, where farmers will be supported to produce and handle high quality fruits and vegetables for the local and international markets.

    Under the agreement with AHCX, Nzioka said Land O’ Lakes will work with the exchange to find markets for the fruits and vegetables and that trading of the produce will be done through AHCX to provide farmers with a modern and transparent market platform for their produce.

    “Selling through AHCX will enable farmers benefit from competitive prices as well as access to up-to-date market information,” said Nzioka.

    The project will support the productivity, value addition and marketing of fruits and vegetables such as mangoes, citrus, guava, potatoes, tomatoes, unions and chillies, with the aim of increasing potential for exports of processed products in the long run.

     

    Print Friendly, PDF & Email

    Leave a comment

    Required fields are marked *