Explore Official Dialogue Feedback

5 Action Track # 5 Outcomes The opportunities under Action Track # 5 were as follows: 1. Availability of disaster preparedness and adaptation measures such as construction of water dyke, early warning systems; 2. Availability of community structures to respond to shocks and stresses such as extension workers, village civil protection committees etc.; and 3. Availability of drought tolerant and early maturing varieties. The enablers under Action Track # 5 were as follows: 1. Availability of Disaster Management and resilience building policies and strategies; and 2. Fisheries guidelines on close... Read mored fishing seasons. Read less

6. Game Changing Priorities The dialogue session identified the game changing priorities across all the five action tracks as follows: 1. Make markets work for the poor through the restructuring of ADMARC and promotion of structured markets; 2. Invest in mechanization and processing equipment to spur agricultural productivity, value addition and agro-processing; 3. Improve transport infrastructure i.e. road networks in rural areas, railway and water transport systems; 4. Promote use of alternative energy sources to boost agriculture operations including agro-processing and value addition; 5. P... Read moreromote climate change adaptation and mitigation measures such as watershed catchment management practices, disaster preparedness etc.; and 6. Increase production and productivity of various crops, livestock and fisheries throughout the year e.g. by promoting of irrigation farming (vibrant mega and anchor farms), agro-ecological practices etc. Read less

7 Actions: Changes to be made within 3 and 10 years This section provides action areas that have to be considered in the short term (3 years) and medium term (10 years) based on the identified game changing priorities. The participants recommended that in the first 3 years, the region and the nation should focus on the following actions: 1. Revamp extension services through recruitment of more extension workers and harmonization/standardization of messages; 2. Enhance resilience of communities to respond to shocks/stress before outside help is sought; 3. Increase food production and productivi... Read morety through promotion of climate smart and appropriate technologies across the whole value chain such as soil fertility improvement practices; 4. Government should provide balanced support in all food crops e.g. through the AIP; 5. Resuscitate ADMARC to facilitate both input and output markets for small scale farmers; 6. Improve road network; 7. Government should stop politicizing maize crop; 8. Revise school curriculum to address food consumption issues e.g. nutrition education and home economics; 9. Prioritize value addition through establishment of local industries with deliberate investments in food processing machinery, food fortification and labelling; and 10. Review certification procedures by Malawi Bureau of standards and ensure enforcement of the same to ensure consumption of safe foods. In terms of expectations of the food systems in the next 10 years, the participants at the dialogue identified the following areas: 1. Ensure policy coordination, coherence and enforcement of regulations towards transformation of food systems; 2. Enhance collaboration and coordination of stakeholders, investments and programs at all levels and across all sectors involved in the food systems; 3. Increase sustainable productivity of foods including aquaculture development by ensuring that farmers are following sustainable good agricultural practices that support/enhance a balanced ecosystem. Government should also consider graduation from the subsidy input program; 4. Exploit the youth demographic dividend by economically empowering youth and building their technical and entrepreneurial skills and rebranding agriculture to make it attractive to them; 5. Enhance climate change adaptation and mitigation measures through investing in early warning system and climate information systems, use of alternative energy sources such as briquettes, chitetezo mbaula, gas, promoting permaculture/ agro ecology and watershed Catchment management practices; 6. Invest in commercial oriented agriculture through large scale, solar powered Irrigation farming e.g. starting from 3,000 hectares; 7. Speed up the industrialization drive i.e. agro-processing and mechanization to allow for import substitution and benefit from regional and international trade opportunities. This includes re-establishment of abandoned factories such as the cotton ginning factories; 8. Put in place gender transformative initiatives across the value chains to ensure equitable benefits and participation among all gender groups; 9. Make markets work for the poor through revitalization of ADMARC and introduction of structured markets including enforcement of minimum prices; and 10. Institutionalization of food systems approach in district councils. Read less

8. Cross cutting outcomes: Productive partnerships The regional dialogue also explored on how stakeholders can work together for collective action and forge powerful partnerships towards transformation of food systems. The participants noted that currently, the region has several partners working in the food systems including NGOs both local and international, faith-based organizations, farmer-based organizations including cooperatives, government departments, private sector players and other food industry players but they rarely work together let alone share lessons and best practices. This w... Read moreas linked to lack of proper coordination at regional and district level including between and among ministries, departments and agencies of the government despite existing structures in the decentralized system of governance. The participants noted that the opportunities, enablers and recommendations to transform food systems are multi-sectoral in nature, hence deliberate efforts need to be put in place for a coordinated approach at the regional and district level to ensure location-specific coordinated actions. Some noted that in most cases, some sectors leave it to the Ministry of Agriculture to handle all issues surrounding food systems while other ministries such as those responsible for nutrition, environment and climate change, infrastructure development, energy and trade just but to mention a few are at the core of an efficient food system. The participants explored and suggested mechanisms that will allow stakeholders to work together for a collective action and forge powerful partnerships as follows: 1. Ensure functioning and use of existing structures to support food systems: a. Establish a food systems structure/coordinating committee at district and community levels; b. Integrate sectoral groups such as nutrition care groups, farmer field schools into the food systems approach; c. Ensure greater involvement of private sector in the food systems approach at all levels; d. Ensure that all non-state actors work collaboratively with government structures when working in an area; 2. Stakeholder multi sectoral joint resource mobilization, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and learning including sharing information and networking; and 3. Ensure transparency and accountability of stakeholders, so that progress is tracked by all. Read less

The regional dialogue was held under the theme “Building healthier, sustainable and equitable food systems for a better Malawi”. The objective of the dialogue was to allow regional and district stakeholders to reflect and analyse the status of food systems in their locality, identifying challenges and constraints, potentials and opportunities, and game-changing solutions and ideas for its transformation, including defined roles and responsibilities at the regional level The dialogue covered all areas of the food systems around the five Action Tracks of the Food Systems Summit Dialogues: �... Read more� Action Track 1 – “Ensuring access to safe and nutritious food for all” – participants examined whether all Malawian’s currently have access to safe and nutritious food. If not, what is it that makes it difficult for Malawians to access safe and nutritious food? • Action Track 2 – “Shifting to sustainable consumption patterns” – dialogue participants had conversations about what the key issues affecting healthy and sustainable food consumption were in Malawi. • Action Track 3 – “Boosting nature-positive production at scale” – Participants examined how Malawi’s food production systems can be transformed to ensure sustainable food and nutrition security for the people. • Action Track 4 – “Advancing equitable livelihoods”– participants explored inequalities within the Malawian food systems. • Action Track 5 – “Building resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks, and stresses” – examined actions to ensure the resilience of the Malawian Food System. Emphasis was made to ensure linkages with national aspirations enshrined in the Malawi 2063 Vision as well as provisions of existing policies and strategies. The dialogue process was underpinned with clear principles such as (i) ensuring that sustainable healthy diets for all is the basic vision, (ii) consideration of food system transformation as the long-term process, (iii) taking a systems approach to this challenge, (iv) adopting an iterative approach, considering national governments as the lead in all matters of governance, (v) taking a supportive and co-creative rather than prescriptive approach, (vi) building on existing structures when feasible, (vii) creating new ones only when necessary, (viii) embracing both evidence and innovation, (ix) proactively addressing frictions related to facts, interests, and values, (x) and approaching the challenge with an attitude of learning, humility, and optimism. Read less

Increased use of pesticides vs pollution: The issue came out based on the understanding that there has been increased use of pesticides due to the infestation of Fall Armyworm and increased cultivation of horticultural crops in the Southern Region. Even as much as it is important to ensure high productivity of the crops, other participants noted that this puts lives at risk if those pesticides are not handled and used properly. For instance, the withdrawal times on vegetables are not adhered to thereby leading to unsafe consumption of foods and pollution in general. Handouts in form of relief ... Read moreitems vs empowerment: The issue of handouts as a social protection measure came out strongly in the Southern Region because of the frequent occurrence of natural disasters. It was noted that communities are used to getting relief items. For instance, there are communities in Chikwawa district that are affected by floods every year and these communities are not willing to relocate to other areas. This has become a political issue as well. Additionally, the dialogue felt that these relief items will, in the long run, increase dependence on government as communities are not willing to be innovative and empowered to graduate from such relief programs. Conflicting extension messages: Technical misguidance and conflicting extension messages i.e. one crop per piece of land against the message of crop diversification. This was noted as an issue that happens especially amongst NGOs and at times between different sectoral ministries where different guidelines or messages are given to farmers thereby rendering them confused. Indigenous foods vs improved varieties: The is need to embrace and consume indigenous food varieties as a major source of nutritious foods and not only focus on the so-called modern/improved varieties came out in the Southern Region dialogues. The promoters of the indigenous food varieties noted that such foods have high nutrition status and are resilient to climate change whilst those championing improved varieties were considering mostly the high yielding and resilient varieties such as drought resistant varieties of maize. Read less

4 Action Track # 4 Outcomes The opportunities that were identified under Action Track # 4 included the following: 1. High potential for tourism e.g. the mountain, wildlife, tea estates, Lengwe and Majete National parks. These can be used as main sources of economic diversification; 2. Availability of other infrastructures e.g. warehouses at community level where buyers can keep their goods before transporting to processing sites or markets; 3. High youth population as source of labour and innovation; 4. Proximity to an international border with Mozambique which allows cross border movement of ... Read morefood items into and out of Malawi in times of hunger; and 5. Potential mining and energy opportunities in the Kirk Range e.g. gold in Thambani, coal in Kamwamba, bauxite on the Mulanje mountain as well as hydroelectric power stations along the Shire River. Enablers that can support the attainment of the opportunities include: 1. Main road network and railway is there to support transportation, these however will need rehabilitation and upgrading; 2. Trade policies and laws. Food systems traders are given a warrant to source food outside the country (Mozambique); 3. Liberalized economy that allows for free trade; and 4. Readily available markets for mining products. Read less

5 Action Track # 5 Outcomes The opportunities under Action Track # 5 were as follows: 1. Availability of skilled environmental inspectors and other officers e.g. extension workers, forestry officers etc.; 2. Availability of institutions that focus on environment management, climate change and disaster preparedness; 3. Availability of funds in decentralized structures such as the District Development Fund; 4. The already existing farming culture; 5. Availability of enthusiastic and committed local leaders; and 6. Availability of tree stumps- high probability of regeneration. The enablers under ... Read moreAction Track # 5 were as follows: 1. Existence of conducive policies, by-laws at all levels with support from local leaders e.g. environmental management, irrigation, disaster preparedness policy, forest by-laws that control the use of forest land and its products 2. Local governance structures; 3. There is an improved saving culture among communities through Village Savings and Loan (VSLs); 4. Good road network although with poor road infrastructure needing attention; and 5. One stop border post at Mwanza that can increase trade and economic activities in the border district. Read less

6. Crosscutting Game Changing Priorities The Southern region dialogue session combined the game changing priorities across all the five action tracks as follows: 1. Enhance food quality transformation and standards o Enhancing regulatory services and capacity in key ministries such as Ministries of Health, agriculture and trade, district councils, community structures, institutions such as the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS); o Increasing collaboration of different stakeholders (to ameliorate overlap of roles among different regulators), including consumers; o Develop a National Food Safety p... Read moreolicy to address all the food safety issues identified; o Recruiting more officers to strengthen food inspectorate services; o Overcoming corruption by regulatory service providers; o Sensitisation of food producers and consumers on food safety and nutrition e.g. introduction of nutrition education at primary school level; and o Adoption of nutrition labelling as a mandatory requirement. 2. Increasing agricultural productivity across all value chains o Develop a legal framework (legislation) for District Agricultural Extension Services System (DAESS) structures to ensure adherence to food safety and other related food system issues; o Construction of mega irrigation schemes tapping on abundant water bodies and perennial rivers; o Intensive nutrition education targeting communities through community radio, frontline workers and non-conventional platforms for promotion of diversified diets; o Re-introduce dip tanks and veterinary services in rural areas; o Provide conduce working environment for extension workers by providing vehicles, good housing etc.; o Promoting innovative extension approaches on food budgeting and good agriculture practices; and o Extending the subsidy program to winter or wetland cropping. 3. Enhance value addition and processing o Promotion of small-scale food processing companies for milk, pineapples (fruit juices) avocado pears (oil), tomato, sweet potatoes, Pigeon peas (dhal); o Improve dry and cold production and marketing infrastructure to improve storage and processing; and o Support value addition and processing facilities managed by cooperatives. 4. Improve market systems and structures o Introduce structured markets and promote contract farming; o Enhance business knowledge and access to market information; o Introduce supply chain financing mechanism to mitigate shocks; and o Revitalize ADMARC so that they facilitate structured markets for both inputs and crop produce. 5. Mind-set Change o Culture - full recognition of local leadership e.g. chiefs to influence mind set change via awareness & enforcement; o End corruption; o Diversification of food production and consumption; and o Promote family planning. 6. Promote alternative sources of energy o Rural electrification program; and o Access to solar and wind power. Read less

7 Cross cutting outcomes: Changes to be made within 3 and 10 years This section provides areas that have to be considered in the short term (3 years) and medium term (10 years) based on the regional dialogues. The participants recommended that in the first 3 years, the region and the nation should focus on the following actions: 1. Empower local leaders on land tribunal issues especially in Thyolo and Mulanje districts; 2. Finalize the national Food Safety Policy; 3. Phase out handouts and train people to be independent; 4. Promote improved, climate smart technologies and mechanization to enha... Read morence productivity and reduction of post-harvest losses; 5. Enforcement of existing policies that can trigger food systems transformation; 6. Promote family planning to reduce overpopulation and land pressure; 7. Enhance research in food systems; 8. Increase the minimum wage; 9. Government should exempt taxes on essentials e.g. milk, salt, sugar etc.; and 10. Youth empowerment: soft loans for the youth enterprises, internships, youth innovation awards, coaching and mentoring. In terms of expectations of the food systems in the next 10 years, the participants at the dialogue identified the following areas: 1. Include nutrition education in primary school curriculum; 2. Introduce new investments in the agricultural sector and agro processing industry e.g. loans for final food processing, soft loans for agricultural initiatives. Invest in large scale irrigation schemes and ensure that they are functional with private sector and community collaboration; 3. Enhance social behaviour change to address issues related to nutrition i.e. encourage consumption of certain types of food (crabs, mice); 4. Invest in livestock and aquaculture development including raring of non-convention animals i.e. rabbits, quails, guinea pigs; 5. Increase use of bio-fortified varieties and breeds; 6. Incentivising workers at grass roots levels from different sectors. i.e. rural electricity, housing, portable water, road infrastructure and reliable networks; 7. Promote public private partnerships to accelerate transformation of food systems; 8. Promote alternative non-farm income sources and empowerment of youth with start-ups and private sector involvement; 9. Provision of incentives to farmers to adopt Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) that are environmentally friendly; and 10. Ensure market systems and structures that work for farmers including reviving ADMARC, institute market innovation centres, among others Read less

8. Cross cutting outcomes: Productive partnerships The regional dialogue also explored how stakeholders can work well together for collective action and forge powerful partnerships towards transformations of food systems. The participants noted that currently, the region has several partners working in the food systems including NGOs both local and international, faith-based organizations, farmer-based organizations including cooperatives, government departments, private sector players and other food industry players but they rarely work together let alone share lessons and best practices. Thi... Read mores was linked to lack of proper coordination at regional and district level including between and among ministries, departments and agencies of the government despite existing structures in the decentralized system of governance. The participants noted that the opportunities, enablers and recommendations to transform food systems are multi-sectoral in nature hence deliberate efforts need to be put in place for a coordinated approach at the regional and district level to ensure location-specific coordinated actions. Some noted that in most cases, other sectors leave just the Ministry of Agriculture to handle all issues surrounding food systems when other ministries such as those responsible for nutrition, environment and climate change, infrastructure development, energy and trade just but to mention a few are at the core of an efficient food system. As such the participants explored and suggested mechanisms that will allow stakeholders to work together for a collective action and forge powerful partnerships as follows: 1. Strengthen networking platforms for all actors in different sectors to enhance collaboration and partnership; 2. Utilize existing research facilities such as Bvumbwe Research Station in Thyolo district in collaboration with extension services to disseminate new crop varieties and animal breeds; 3. Leverage Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to foster dissemination and sharing information among food systems actors. Strengthen information sharing among stakeholders e.g. a database as a repository is supposed to be developed that all stakeholders can use; 4. Enhance implementation of key outputs of forums on similar thematic areas to ensure that there are actions and accountability systems in place on the game changers agreed upon such as: a. Engaging with various stakeholders/experts including local authorities to take dialogues outcomes as part of the district plans; and b. Institutionalizing food systems e.g. a task force at decentralized structures has to be established, which is multi-sectoral in nature and include private sector stakeholders to continue the dialogues post UNFSS in September 2021. Read less

The regional dialogue was held under the theme “Building healthier, sustainable and equitable food systems for a better Malawi”. The objective of the dialogue was to reflect on the status of Malawi’s food systems, identify challenges and constraints, potentials and opportunities, and game-changing solutions and ideas for its transformation, including defined roles and responsibilities from local voices at the regional level Based on the guidelines, the dialogue was centred on the five action Tracks underpinning Food Systems and making Summit Dialogues: • Action Track 1 – “Ensuring ... Read moreaccess to safe and nutritious food for all” – participants examined whether all Malawian’s currently have access to safe and nutritious food. If not, what is it that makes it difficult for Malawians to access safe and nutritious food? • Action Track 2 – “Shifting to sustainable consumption patterns” – dialogue participants had conversations about what the key issues affecting healthy and sustainable food consumption were in Malawi. • Action Track 3 – “Boosting nature-positive production at scale” – Participants examined how Malawi’s food production systems can be transformed to ensure sustainable food and nutrition security for the people. • Action Track 4 – “Advancing equitable livelihoods”– participants explored inequalities within the Malawian food systems. • Action Track 5 – “Building resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks, and stresses” – the dialogue examined actions to ensure the resilience of the Malawian Food System. The Convenors’ representative also emphasized the need to analyse the food systems issues in consideration of existing national policies and strategies including the national aspirations enshrined in the Malawi 2063 Vision. Read less

Action Track #1: Ensuring safe and nutrition food for all Current challenges and their causes/drivers 1. Low productivity and production of diversified and nutritious foods: a) Climate change – floods, dry spells, drought and erratic rains; b) Low adoption of improved agricultural technologies and irrigation; and c) Handout syndrome or overdependence of relief after climatic shocks. 2. Seasonal availability of foods a. High post-harvest losses; b. Inadequate knowledge in processing techniques or technologies; and c. Limited winter food production systems. Use of residual moisture and wetland... Read more crop production. 3. Poor utilization of food a. Limited knowledge on how to integrate some food in the diet. 4. Unstable prices of foods a. No competition among the buyers. b. Currently there are no auction markets for livestock 5. No value addition of foods a. Limited skills on value addition particularly among small-scale producers; and b. Lack of facilities to enable value addition despite having a lot of citrus fruits. Action Track #2: Shifting to sustainable consumption patterns Current Challenges and causes/drivers 1. Consumption of unsafe foods a. Inadequate inspectorate services on livestock products, especially the open markets for meat; b. Lack of adherence to Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) i.e. there is rampant abuse of veterinary drugs and/or pesticides; and c. Inadequate Good Hygienic Practices (GHP). Increasing industrial waste in rivers flowing through Blantyre city and downstream districts. 2. Inadequate access to nutritious food leading to malnutrition including stunting a. Limited knowledge on types of nutritious food, food budgeting, food processing, food preparation and utilization; b. Rapid urbanisation is also leading to poor feeding habits for both urban and rural dwellers; c. Cultural and religious beliefs that limit consumption of some nutritious foods; and d. Inadequate food availability and distribution at other times of the season. 3. Low use of indigenous foods a. Climatic challenges like dry spells that affect production of wild indigenous foods; b. Loss of indigenous knowledge, especially in food preparation; and c. Perceptions that indigenous foods are of the poor and of low nutrient quality. 4. Over reliance and dependency culture on the government-handouts e.g. Chikwawa and Nsanje districts a. Natural disasters e.g. floods and droughts which always attract government and partners’ relief response actions. Action Track #3: Boosting nature-positive food production Current challenges and causes/drivers 1. Poor industrial and domestic waste management resulting in pollution a. Peoples’ negligence e.g. vandalism of sewer lines especially in the City of Blantyre, damping of plastics etc.; b. Inadequate enforcement of the city by-laws but also the Environmental management and act and regulations; and c. Limited resources for waste management. 2. Poor management of agricultural pesticides and chemicals a. Increased use of pesticides in containing pests like fall army worms; b. Increased use of chemical, some of which are persistent in food and also affect water sources; and c. Negligence to adhere to safety measures especially on withdrawal periods and consumption of horticultural produce. 3. Destruction of natural environment due to poor agricultural practices a. Failure to adopt best practices of managing agricultural production is leading to challenges like soil erosion and siltation of rivers; b. Deforestation as a result of increased demands for energy, timber etc; c. Cultivating along the riverbanks due to land scarcity and conflicting land use policies; and d. Land degradation due to population growth, overgrazing, monoculture e.g. unsustainable farming practice (continuous use of farmland). 4. Climate change/ change in rainfall patters a. Prolonged dry spells, flash floods and heavy winds due to climate change; b. Cutting down trees and leaving bare land; c. Over harvesting of natural resources e.g. overfishing and trees; and d. Unsustainable development practices e.g. brick burning and use of timber in infrastructure development. Action Track # 4 Advancing equitable livelihoods of people involved in food systems Current Challenges and causes/drivers 1. Inequitable access to land a. Culturally land is owned by women but controlled by men; b. The limited land available is rented out to others and sold out worsening the situation; and c. Most land in Thyolo and Mulanje is under estate use for tea production. 2. Undiversified income sources a. Lack of innovativeness on marketing; and b. Social set up favours men over women in terms of education e.g. education investment in families are bent towards men than women. 3. High unemployment rate among the youth a. Many of the youth in migrate to South Africa; and b. High level of school drop-out among girls and related teen pregnancies, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Action Track # 5 Building resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stresses Current challenges and causes/drivers 1. Natural disasters a. The floodplain of Malawi (Lower Shire) is mostly affected with floods and dry-spells. Cyclone Idai also recently affected the livelihoods in the region. 2. Land shortage a. Increase in population and unfair land tenure arrangements have led to low crop and livestock production, conflicts and wrangles over land and gender based violence. 3. Pests and diseases Infestations a. High incidences of Fall army worm have mostly affected the region especially the in lower shire. Read less

1 Action Track #1 Outcomes The opportunities for Action Track #1 to ensure safe and nutritious food for all were identified as follows: 1. Availability of institutions and structures that focus on agriculture production; 2. Extension structures and service are available across the country; 3. An opportunity of accessing quality inputs from government and NGO 4. Subsidized inputs from government; 5. Clean banana suckers from agriculture production units; and 6. Supply of farming inputs on credit from NGOs such as One Acre Fund. The major enablers identified under Action Track # 1 were as follow... Read mores: 1. Availability of regulatory services in the district; 2. On-going national drive to change some of the negative cultural practices; 3. Irrigation policy that is promoting winter and wetland crop production to maximize production; 4. Marketing and export strategies that is focusing on improving markets for agricultural commodities; 5. Horticultural strategies that is promoting value addition; and 6. Multi-sectoral approach to food and nutrition (policies and strategies). Read less

2 Action Track # 2 Outcomes The opportunities identified towards shifting to sustainable consumption patterns were as follows: 1. Availability of skilled government workers e.g. environmental inspectors, nutrition officers, Health surveillance assistants; 2. Availability of diverse and nutritious food types across the region; 3. Existence of processing companies e.g. dhal from pigeon peas factory in Phalombe district; 4. Availability of governance structures and government extension service systems e.g. community structures dealing with issues of nutrition; 5. There is very high potential for ... Read morecitrus and livestock production in both Mwanza and Neno districts; 6. Diversified production (crop and animal) is possible because the districts have a lot of potential land for production of either of the enterprises; 7. Gender programming encouraging men and women to participate in nutrition related issues (not just regarded as a woman issue); and 8. Growing interest among traditional leadership and other stakeholders on issues of nutrition education. The enablers that can allow the country to advance sustainable consumption included: 1. Existence of infant and child feeding strategy – recipe books; 2. Availability of the food and nutrition policy and strategies that promote 6 food groups; 3. Gender strategy; 4. Food budget guidance; and 5. Existence of health personnel to provide information on good hygienic and sanitary practices. Read less

3 Action Track # 3 Outcomes The opportunities identified under Action Track # 3 were as follows: 1. Good weather for production of wheat, potatoes and citrus fruits; 2. Existence of agriculture extension services that can facilitate: Increased adoption of new technologies by farmers – farmers are receptive to innovation and learning – across the value chains; and availability of call in services to access information related agricultural production (Toll free lines). 3. Abundant water - perennial rivers for both irrigation and power generation e.g. Mkulumadzi, Shire and Mwanza rivers; 4. D... Read moreistribution of subsidized farm inputs that can be extended to irrigation (winter cropping) agriculture; 5. Very favourable weather conditions conducive for a variety of crops especially horticultural and other cash crops while the lowlands are suitable for livestock production; 6. Ongoing developmental programmes such as the Shire valley transformation project that offers an opportunity for increased learning, production and income generation; 7. Solar powered farms are an opportunity for increased power generation and electrification of rural and urban areas; Enablers identified included the following: 1. Availability of conducive government policies, regulations and by laws at all levels; 2. Existence of agriculture research stations e.g. Bvumbwe Research Station, Kasinthula Fisheries Station; 3. Government setting of minimum prices and licensing of agro-dealers; 4. Government and development partners have interest to assist farmers in value addition; and 5. Farm managed natural regeneration program underway through Forestry Department including availability of village forest areas to be used for afforestation. Read less

4 Action Track # 4 Outcomes The opportunities that were identified under Action Track # 4 included the following: • Growth in local financial initiatives especially informal structures e.g. Village Savings and Loan (VSL); • Existing markets infrastructure of the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) that has capacity to facilitate storage and marketing; • Government increased investments in public works program and road infrastructure; • Vision 2063 focus on industrialization has potential to open up economic and employment opportunities; • Existing social prote... Read morection and safety net programs; and • Exploiting the youth demographic dividend. Read less

5 Action Track # 5 Outcomes The opportunities under Action Track # 5 were as follows: • Availability of natural resources including fertile lands, fresh water from lake Malawi and perennial rivers for irrigation and aquaculture (fish farming); • Availability of investments by multi stakeholders such as research/ academic institutions, NGOs and private sector players; • Presence of mines and game reserves in the northern region which could provide economic activities; • Conducive weather conditions that are ideal for crop and livestock production and diversification; and • Presence of... Read more different farmer groups and cooperatives (Irrigation schemes, Water Users Associations). The enablers under Action Track # 5 were as follows: • Political stability/political will by the central government and good multilateral and bilateral relationships; • Availability of good policies (Malawi 2063 vision, NAP 2016; NAIP 2018); • Growing population offers market demand and labour; • Existing systems and structures at all levels e.g. Extension system, agro-dealer network-input suppliers, decentralized local structures etc.; • Free education in primary school and high literacy rate in the northern region as compared to other regions; and • Availability of market infrastructure such as ADMARC warehouses that can support structured markets. Read less

The northern region dialogue session identified game changing priorities that apply across all the five action tracks. These include the following: 1. Scale up and enhance coordination of existing interventions by government, civil society and the private sector to enhance production and productivity, food safety and resilience e.g. farmer field schools, school feedings programmes, subsidy in crop and farm mechanization, road infrastructure, community nutrition training centres, processing plants in community and producing areas; 2. Promote a food systems oriented education system through curr... Read moreiculum review; 3. Increase utilization of existing structures in extension and research: a. Improve the functionality of DAESS structures to improve extension service delivery; b. Increase number of extension workers; and c. Improve research services for increased innovation and technologies (e.g. new varieties and methods of farming) 4. Diversify energy sources: a. Enhancement of rural/semi-urban electrification to spur small processing of agriculture produce; b. Promote adoption alternative energy sources (hydro, solar and wind) and energy saving technologies; 5. Enhance agriculture productivity and diet diversification: a. Commercialize agriculture with emphasis on crop and diet diversification; b. Promote diversified agriculture and diets including off-farm activities; c. Promote indigenous crop varieties and foods; d. expand and diversify Affordable Input program (AIP) to support agriculture diversification; e. Promote adoption of climate smart technologies; f. Intensify reforestation; and g. Invest in irrigation through increased utilization and expansion of existing irrigation schemes and construction of multipurpose dam for irrigation, hydro power generation, drinking water and fish farming. 6. Ensure conducive policy environment and enforcement of regulations a. Government should put in place enabling policies on land issues e.g. to ensure that land ownership be for every member of a household; b. Enforce council by-laws on agricultural marketing, food marketing standards and regulated fishing; c. Improved governance and functioning of decentralisation systems; and d. Develop and implement of settlement policy to regulate settlement. 7. Intensify extension services, civic education and communication approaches: a. Undertake civic education for mind-set change & economic empowerment; and b. Increase awareness and knowledge on nutrition, food consumption and climate change through extension workers and other communication channels. 8. Strengthen value chain functions including making markets work for the poor: a. Enforcement of minimum prices; b. Promote value addition and food processing; c. Build capacity on food processing and utilisation including food safety; and d. Increase investments in food processing and storage equipment and technologies. 9. Strengthen farmer organizations and cooperatives: a. Facilitate, revamp and empower cooperatives and associations to facilitate better access to inputs, markets and mechanization services as well as engage in industrialisation; b. Facilitate accessible and favourable financing and lending mechanisms; and c. Support community initiatives and approaches such as Village Savings and Loan to support food systems interventions. 10. Exploit the youth demographic dividend and community empowerment a. Provide loan facilities targeting the youth; b. Build skills and knowledge of the youth in agricultural activities in their areas; and c. Increase use of technology and digital innovations to attract youth in agriculture. 11. Enhance access to finance to support food systems development a. Develop and establish an Agricultural Development Fund/Bank with affordable interest rates that support agricultural activities; and b. Put in place friendly financial policies. Read less

7. Changes to be made within 3 and 10 years This section provides areas that have to be considered in the short term (3 years) and medium term (10 years) based on the regional dialogues. The participants recommended that in the first three years, the region and the nation should focus on the following actions: 1. Restructure the Affordable Input program (AIP): a. Implement universal AIP to improve access to inputs for all farmers; b. Diversify AIP to include livestock and fish farming; and c. Ensure proper targeting of inputs (seeds and fertiliser) according to location specific interventions ... Read moreand priorities. 2. Strengthen and intensify existing productivity enhancing initiatives such as: a. Research (more investment and funding); b. Utilize existing working models for farmer empowerment e.g. farmer field schools; c. Strengthen extension services through improved welfare of extension workers e.g. housing of local extension workers, recruitment and training of new extension staff; and d. Review the demand driven extension policy to enable adoption technologies that would help build resilience. 3. Ensure affordable Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) services (affordable airtime, internet and phones) to facilitate effective extension, communication and market transactions; 4. Invest and promote technologies for improved storage (e.g. solar driers), processing and value addition; 5. Improve road and railway infrastructure to increase access to inputs and markets and ensure timely delivery; 6. Strengthen decentralized structures, by-laws and investments: a. Develop and enforce district bylaws; b. Develop and implement district agricultural investment plans; c. Depoliticize Constituency Development Fund (CDF); d. Prioritise and promote food budgeting, processing, preservation and utilization at community level; and e. Strengthen and expand Monitoring, Control and Surveillance of fishery resources. 7. Intensify on irrigation farming through establishments and rehabilitation of irrigation schemes; 8. Restoration of natural forests and improve land use planning; 9. Strengthen market structures and systems e.g. enforcement of minimum farm gate prices; 10. Establish of agriculture development bank to serve farmers; and 11. Contain population growth. To improve food systems in the next 10 years, the participants at the dialogue identified the following areas: 1. Promote wealth creation opportunities at community level to improve livelihoods; 2. Increase investments and improve functioning of transport systems including road and railway systems; 3. Exploit international and regional trade opportunities; 4. Promote sustainable agricultural production practices: • Reduce dependency on subsidies; • Promote livestock farming; • Expand fish farming industry through construction of dams and water reservoirs; and • Invest in irrigation schemes. 5. Make agriculture attractive to young people through provision of finance, mechanisation and digital technologies; 6. Invest in commercialized agriculture with necessary equipment and systems across the value chains: • Improve agro processing and value addition at community level; • Invest in alternative energy sources; • Invest in mechanization; and • Establish functional food reserves at district level and community grain banks. 7. Improve natural resource and conservation management practices e.g. reduce land degradation, ensure well managed catchment areas. Read less