Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Thoko Tembo, has described the launch of the Malawi Food Systems Policy Hub as a major milestone in strengthening evidence-based decision-making and transforming the country’s agricultural sector.
Speaking on Thursday during the launch, Tembo said the Hub is a national platform designed to advance Malawi’s development aspirations by improving coordination and ensuring that policies are informed by credible research.
He noted that the initiative aligns with the country’s long-term development strategy, Malawi 2063, and its First 10-Year Implementation Plan (MIP-1).
Tembo said Malawi has embraced the food systems approach as a pathway for operationalising Malawi 2063, stressing that agriculture cannot be transformed in isolation as productivity, irrigation, nutrition, trade and environmental sustainability are closely interconnected.
He observed that the Hub will bridge the long-standing gap between research and policy implementation by ensuring that scientific findings directly influence national planning and reform processes. The platform will serve as a structured interface between government, researchers, development partners and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).
Director for Policy at CGIAR, Clemens Brüsinger, said the initiative will help transform food, land and water systems, create jobs and improve food security. He added that the Hub was co-created with the Government of Malawi and local institutions to deliver evidence-based solutions for sustainable food systems transformation.
