SMAAC Enterprises says Malawi is sitting on a gold mine but failing to take advantage of it — the country is the largest pig producer in Africa, with about 13 million pigs, and ranks 19th globally, yet it still struggles to benefit due to a lack of value addition.

SMAAC Enterprises Director, Samuel Magombo, believes Malawi could transform its economy by processing various pig products for the international market.

“It’s sad that as a country, we are still importing pig products like bacon, sausages, and polony, when we could be producing and exporting them ourselves,” said Magombo. “We have all the resources we need. What’s missing is a shift in mindset — from focusing only on local consumption to targeting international markets.”

Magombo made these remarks during a celebration organized for eight Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) Animal Science students, who recently completed a month-long industrial attachment at SMAAC Enterprises. The students are now establishing their own small-scale pig farms.

One of the students, Patricia Kaphiza, said the training empowered her with practical skills in feed formulation, vaccination, antibiotic administration, and business development.

“I’m excited that after our attachment, we were encouraged to form a cooperative, and we’ve already started contributing towards it. Mr. Magombo has promised us land and will link us to potential financiers. This initiative will help us create jobs for other young people,” she said.

Another student, Thomasi Banda, described the 30-day training as an eye-opener, saying it helped him connect classroom learning with real industry experience.

“This experience has motivated us to be innovative and think globally. As youth, our goal is not just to seek employment but to create jobs and help reduce unemployment in the country,” Banda said.

The celebration was attended by representatives from the National Bank of Malawi, the Ministry of Agriculture, LUANAR, and local farmers who previously underwent pig management training at the institution.

Meanwhile, Magombo revealed that SMAAC Enterprises will open Malawi’s largest pork value addition factory in March next year. The factory is expected to process products from over 200 pigs per month, targeting both local and international markets.