President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has urged all players in the agriculture sector to be innovative.

Mutharika said this during the opening of the 11th Agricultural Fair held at Chichiri Trade Fair Grounds in Blantyre. The fair is being held under the theme ‘A Basis for Inclusive Economic Growth’.

In his speech, Mutharika said climate change in the country poses a serious threat to farming in the country so there is need for farmers to adapt with the change by using modern technologies to ensure increased agricultural production.

“I would like to urge our farmers to adopt the innovations and technologies that are being developed, and some of which I have seen being exhibited at this agriculture fair.

“My Government intends to revive the Green-belt Initiative to intensify irrigation farming in different localities along Lake Malawi and other perennial rivers. The Initiative will ensure that we get good crop harvest under irrigation and the possibility of getting 2 or 3 harvests in a year to easily achieve commercialized agriculture in the country and also increase our export base.”, said Mutharika.

On his part, Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) President Newton Kambala urged the government to settle K173 billion arrears the private sector is owed in goods and services supplied to Malawi Government.

The fair will run from August 28, 2014 to August 30.