On 18 September, AICC had a press briefing where it presented a business case for a once-off capital injection US$4.8 million into a cotton input fund as a short to medium term input supply intervention. It is expected that the injection towards input fund will rejuvenate the sector by generating US$60.5 million in exports, US$26.5 million annually accruing to smallholder farmers and over US$ 50 million accruing to various players engaged in value added services.  Additionally, the sector employs over 20,000 workers on both permanent and temporary basis in cotton value added activities during a ‘normal year’ when over 50, 000 MT of cotton is produced.

The African Institute of Corporate Citizenship (AICC) wishes to invite stakeholders in the agricultural value chain to a Public Debate as experts look for solutions at how best can Malawi structure grain marketing under the big question, ‘Should Malawi extend the Auction System and Export Mandate to Grain Marketing?’ The debate is scheduled as follows:

Date     : Thursday 19^th October 2017.

Venue   : Crossroads Hotel

Time     : 06:00 PM – 09:00 PM

30 farmers together with their lead farmer belonging to Talandila and Umodzi Clubs whose members come from Mpingu and Ngwangwa Extension Planning Area in Lilongwe were this week trained in bakery business and Soya Meat Production. The training was organised by the African Institute of Corporate Citizenship (AICC) through its Sustainable Lead Farmer Programme (SALFP) in partnership with Network for Youth Development (NFYD), Pfeiffer, Malawi Union of Savings and Credit Cooperatives (MUSCCO), and Lilongwe District Agriculture Development Office (DADO). The training aimed at instilling knowledge of bakery and soya meat production as one way of helping the two clubs to add value to their produce and also diversify their businesses.