By:Patrick Mkandawire
Chama Distric in Eastern province has marked a major milestone with the commissioning of the Katangalika Bulking Centre, constructed under the Transforming Landscapes for Resilience and Development (TRALARD) Project with support from the World Bank.
Speaking during the event, District Administrative officer Wenstone Phiri said the facility represents a beacon of hope, opportunity and resilience for farming communities.
He noted that the TRALARD Project is helping districts like Chama respond to challenges caused by climate change, including erratic rainfall, soil degradation and declining yields.
The Dao said the new centre is expected to serve as a hub for storage, value addition and aggregation of agricultural produce reducing post-harvest losses, improving market access and helping farmers secure better prices.
The Dao also thanked the World Bank, the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, the Provincial Administration in Chinsali and all local stakeholders for their role in delivering the project.
Deputy Council Chairperson Endson Phiri said the centre will strengthen the district’s agricultural value chain and help farmers operate in a more organized, profitable and sustainable manner.
This facility will bring order to the way produce is stored and marketed. It will help our farmers negotiate from a stronger position and improve income at household level,he said.
Chama North Member of Parliament’s representative, James Phiri, described the project as a timely investment that aligns with government efforts to empower rural communities.
He said Government wants to see farmers move away from subsistence and begin to participate meaningfully in the economy, Centres like this will help our people transition to commercial farming.
He urged farmers and cooperatives to take ownership of the facility, maintain it properly and use it as a tool for uplifting livelihoods today and for future generations.
Representing Senior Chief Kambombo, Group Headman Katangalika thanked government and partners for bringing development to the chiefdom.
This centre is a great blessing to our people. As traditional leaders, we encourage our farmers to guard it jealously and use it for the benefit of the entire community,” he said.
The Katangalika Bulking Centre is expected to play a central role in promoting agribusiness growth, climate-resilient farming and sustainable development in Chama District.
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