Its executive director Macleod Nkhoma was speaking after CAT has become one of six organisations globally that has just received the Golden Leaf Award from the US based Tobacco Reporter Magazine for helping to diversify the Malawi economy.

CAT is an initiative that aims to transform smallholder agriculture in Malawi to create alternative livelihoods.

‘’it’s a big recognition for us in terms of our contribution to the diversification agenda in the country as you might be aware, this award has been awarded to a number of organisations that have contributed greatly to the diversification agenda,” said Nkhoma.

He added that CAT is linking to the Malawi 2063 agenda especially focusing on agriculture productivity, diversification and commercialization which stipulate that other than farmers depend on one value chain, it is also building their capacity to diversify into other value chains.

“ For instance, our farmers are being exposed to other seed technologies like groundnuts, rice, in horticulture, they are being introduced to banana farming and because of that, they can be assured of improved livelihoods,” said Nkhoma.

Economist Dr. Betchani Tchereni agrees that for Malawi to move forward, the economy needs diversification like being championed by CAT.