The mechanization drive for the agriculture sector being pushed by Malawi government has received a boost from the republic of Korea with a donation of 6 tractors and mobile grain drier.

Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale said when receiving the donation valued at $300, 000 at agriculture technology Center in Salima that this will go a long way towards enhancing agriculture production in Malawi.

"This is a big boost as it will allow farmers now improve production and sell the grain to Agriculture Development and Marketing Corporation-Admarc and National Food Reserve Agency-NFRA with the recommended moisture content," the minister said. 

The minister believes this will also save Malawians who have been grappling with post-harvest losses due to high moisture content in their crops.

"Secondly a lot of Malawians have been complaining about Admarc and NFRA buying crops late because they wait for moisture to reduce but with this mobile grain drier and 10 more which we are procuring to be used by the two institutions, the challenge will be resolved,” said the minister.

Korean ambassador to Malawi Jaekyung Park has reassured Malawi of his government’s continued support towards improving the agriculture sector.

We had our prime minister’s visit to Malawi in October 2023 and this is the start of tangible outcome of this high-level visit from Korea and the visit of Malawi’s former vice president Saulos Chilima last year,” he said.

Besides the machinery, he added that Korea is considering supporting mass rice seed production in Salima

“The preliminary team from Korea visited Malawi last month. Sometime later this year or early next year implementation will roll out,” the Korean ambassador said.

The gesture by the Korean government, Minister Kawale said represents a significant limp forward as the tractors are enablers of progress, prosperity and food security for the nation.

Estimates for Malawi’s agricultural mechanization as of 2025 are at around 13 percent of its potential with the tractor farmer ratio of 1:1, 800.

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