Semu is optimistic that through the Cooperatives, farmers are able to meet their economic and social needs simply because they lobby for better prices of their commodities.

This was observed in Dowa during a learning visit to Matamangwe Cooperative society in TA Msakambewa by Lead farmers from Lumbadzi in Lilongwe.

"We want to see farmers empowered economically in a drive to reduce poverty in the country through smallholder agricultural cooperatives " Semu said.

Chairperson of Matamangwe Cooperative Society, Ines Nkhoma said, through the cooperative, they have managed to buy two maize mills, oil factory and currently they have more than 9 million kwacha earnings in profit.

"We are making strides in uplifting our lives here as we have bought two maize mills, oil factory and currently we have over 9 million kwacha earnings in profit " she said.

Apart from poverty reduction, cooperative societies also entrench democratic principles and self-reliance in developing countries like Malawi.