The Centre for Agricultural Transformation (CAT) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting smallholder farmers across Malawi through new innovations aimed at improving farming systems and productivity.
CAT Executive Director Macleod Nkhoma made the remarks on Wednesday in Lilongwe during the handover ceremony of a K5 billion Global Action Agricultural Transformation Centre to the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR). The facility has been constructed at LUANAR’s Natural Resources College (NRC) Campus.
Nkhoma said the six-year project, implemented with support from Global Action to End Smoking, has achieved remarkable results — including increased adoption of modern farming practices, diversification, and enhanced productivity — benefiting more than 860,000 smallholder farmers nationwide.
“We have trained farmers on soil amendment techniques to improve nutrient levels and enhance productivity. Our focus is not just on crop diversification but also on increasing yield per unit area of land under cultivation,” said Nkhoma.
Speaking at the same event, Global Action to End Smoking Executive Board Chairperson Pam Parizek said the establishment of the new centre marks a major milestone in promoting crop diversification and agricultural innovation.
“We believe this Centre will play a central role in helping smallholder farmers transform their livelihoods through access to new ideas, innovations, and technologies,” Parizek said.
LUANAR Vice Chancellor Professor Emmanuel Kaunda described the partnership as a strategic move that will strengthen collaboration between the public and private sectors in promoting soil health and advancing agricultural research.
“As Vice Chancellor, I am particularly excited about the opportunities this Centre brings to LUANAR. It will enhance applied research, empower our students through youth academies and entrepreneurship programmes, promote value addition, and serve as a one-stop hub for agricultural transformation,” said Kaunda.
Global Action to End Smoking supports evidence-based interventions that help people quit smoking and provides resources to reduce risks for those who cannot or will not quit combustible tobacco use.
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