19/06/2026
Thank you National Youth Council of Malawi.
YAC Launches Youth-Led Digital Service to Tackle Market Information Gaps for Mzuzu Farmers
National Youth Council of Malawi of Malawi affiliate Youth for Action Campaign (YAC) has rolled out a digital agricultural market information service aimed at addressing longstanding challenges faced by smallholder farmers in Mzuzu and surrounding areas.
For years, farmers in the region have sold produce without access to reliable market prices, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation by middlemen and resulting in diminished returns. Limited access to weather updates, market demand trends, and agricultural input information has further contributed to post-harvest losses and reduced productivity.
The initiative seeks to address these gaps while simultaneously tackling youth unemployment by engaging young people in community-based digital enterprises.The service will deliver daily market prices, weather forecasts, and agricultural advisories via SMS, USSD, and voice platforms designed for basic mobile phones.
This week, YAC Programs Manager Fortunate Luckson, Digital Coordinator Brave Kamanga, and Resource Mobilization Assistant Ireen Chiyombo conducted field visits to Nkholongo, Chigwere, and Choma. The delegation met with beneficiary farmers to assess the initial phase of the project.
Speaking after the engagements, Luckson expressed satisfaction with the project's early progress. He noted that timely access to market data directly improves farmers’ bargaining power and household incomes. Luckson further called for increased support and collaboration from government agencies to scale the intervention and align it with Malawi 2063’s aspirations for an inclusively wealthy and self-reliant nation.
During the visit to NKholongo,Banda,a farmer wearing a vest and his wife in a black blouse conveyed their appreciation to the YAC team. The couple urged the organization to extend the service to more farming households and to facilitate direct linkages with potential buyers. They emphasized the need for mechanisms that ensure commodities are sold at recommended market prices.
The youth-led service forms part of YAC’s broader strategy to integrate technology and productivity in rural economies. By leveraging basic mobile platforms, the program aims to create sustainable employment for youth while strengthening the agricultural value chain.
YAC says the next phase will focus on expanding coverage and establishing buyer networks to ensure farmers translate information into higher earnings.
