By Orchestra Kamanga

As one way of promoting and reducing poverty among the rural community FARMSE (Financial Access for Rural Markets, Smallholders and Enterprises has embarked on a seven year national wide programme development which is implemented by the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development from 2018 to 2025.

Speaking during a two day symposium held in the commercial city of Malawi, Blantyre, FARMSE Coordinator Dixon Ngwende the main purpose of the programme is make sure that people in the rural areas should access to loans so that they can buy farm in-puts and their needs.

“Our focus of the programme is to reduce poverty especially in the rural areas and that the community should access to financial services so that the country can develop social economically,” he said.

Acting Director Pension and Finance Sector Policy Division Alfred Kutengule said the country cannot grow economically without empowering rural households.

The two day Symposium is been held under a theme: Leveraging Digital Technology to deliver Financial Services for Rural Markets and has brought expertise from Zambia and Kenya.

The main objectives of the seven year programme is to reduce poverty, improve livelihoods and enhance the resilience of rural households on a sustainable basis.