MRA at the 16th National Agriculture Fair

The Malawi Revenue Authority is participating in the National Agricultural Fair, currently taking place at the Chichiri Trade Fair grounds in Blantyre. 

The fair is organised annually by the Ministry of Agriculture Irrigation and Water Development in partnership with Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI). The main objective is to provide a platform for different agricultural value chain players to share information on their businesses and trading, to access new technologies that have emerged and get exposure to new markets. Over 90 exhibitors are in attendance.

MRA is providing tax information to various stakeholders ranging from farmers to farm input producers and equipment suppliers.

MRA pavilion has been set as a platform for interaction with the agro-based traders on the taxes administered and procedures to follow when importing and exporting produce. Emphasis is also on the recently new tax measures in Customs and Excise which are already in effect.

This year’s fair was officially opened by the Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Honourable Kondwani Nankhumwa Wednesday 25^th September, 2019 and it is being held under the theme: ‘Agricultural Commercialisation: Basis for Agri-based Industrialisation’.

Speaking during the official opening Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Honourable Kondwani Nankhumwa said the agriculture fair is meant to support agricultural development in the country.

“Agriculture is important for food, nutrition, and income security in this country. Besides food security, the agriculture accounts for nearly 30 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), contributes to about 80 percent of the total export earnings and employs over 64 percent of the country’s workforce. The National Agriculture Fair is a platform for farmers, cooperatives and agro-based dealers to interact and learn from each other,” the minister said.

He said the Government of Malawi is fully committed to improving the agriculture sector’s performance to graduate from primary industry. He therefore urged stakeholders in the agriculture sector to increase their performance.

The 16^th National Agriculture Fair runs up to Saturday, 28^th September 2019.