Stronger smallholder farmers in Malawi

The OPEC Fund has signed a US$20 million development loan agreement with Malawi to improve the livelihoods of around 1.3 million people living in rural areas.

The financing will support the ‘Transforming Agriculture through Diversification and Entrepreneurship’ project, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 2 on food security, improved nutrition and sustainable agriculture.

The objective is to strengthen value chains and improve the resilience and capacity of Malawi’s smallholder farmers and rural organizations. The project will provide better infrastructure (including new roads) and access to rural financial schemes, as well as enhanced partnerships with the private sector and inclusive business development services. Climate smart interventions will help combat land degradation and improve agricultural productivity.

The project is in line with Malawi’s National Agriculture Policy (NAP), which intends to achieve sustainable agricultural transformation to drive growth in the agricultural sector, expanding incomes for farm households, improving food and nutrition security for all Malawians, and boosting agricultural exports.