Thematic Areas:

The conference will feature the following proposed interactive thematic sessions in four inter-linked priority areas, namely:

1. Agricultural commercialization and diversification- strategies for shifting away from low productivity and subsistence-oriented agriculture to a more commercialized agricultural system with improved structured markets. Where are we, what are strategies for driving the desired transformation? How could these be inclusive of small, medium and large-scale farmers?

2. Enabling the agricultural business environment- strategies for attaining market-led agricultural production through the improvement of the agricultural business environment, including regulations on contract farming, farmland availability, ownership and lease tenancy systems; exports requirements such as standards and certification including sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS); policy, trade and tax incentives; and other high cost of doing business in the country.

3. Agricultural finance and marketing – deliberate actions and strategies including policies for improving access to financial resources for increased agricultural production and trading for supporting diversification and strengthening export facilitation. Including strategies for exploiting opportunities in existing regional trade markets for Malawian priority value chains based on their export potential.

4. Public-Private sector engagement- ways of fostering communication between state and non-state actors for coordinated policy action in the diversification of Malawi agricultural value chains including engaging the Government on the proposed priority policy reforms and lessons from ongoing agricultural public-private partnership (PPP).

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