Agriculture is central to Malawi’s economy, employing much of the population and contributing substantially to GDP. However, agricultural productivity and earnings have stagnated and chronic food insecurity is a serious problem. Recent shocks including the COVID-19 pandemic, higher food prices, and cyclones have hurt agricultural production and hindered Malawi’s progress toward SDG target 2.3 (double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers).
Digital tools can help boost smallholder productivity and incomes by providing timely and targeted agricultural advice, facilitating access to markets, improving crop management practices, and enhancing overall agricultural decision-making.
To accelerate and realize the potential of digital agriculture, Farm Radio Trust-Malawi (FRT) is providing a low-cost and wide-coverage information and communications technology (ICT) intervention bundle to existing producer groups. Participants receive weekly phone messages (SMS) on agricultural management and marketing; watch videos on agricultural techniques; and are encouraged to use a hotline/call center for agricultural and market advice, to set up radio listening clubs, and to practice collective marketing. The overall aim is to create ICT hubs with members who are active ICT users and promoters, adopters and models of good agricultural and marketing practices, and beneficiaries of improved productivity and incomes.