Minister Lowe challenges agricultural workers to work extra hard

MALAWI: Lobin Lowe, Minister of Agriculture, has advised his ministry's employees to work even harder if the ministry is to be transformed.

The Minister made the remarks on Friday evening at the Crossroad Hotel in Lilongwe, where he honoured over 200 best Ministry of Agriculture extension workers from various districts across the country.

Lowe stated that his ministry decided to award the best employees as a way of appreciating and motivating them for their hard work and commitment.

"We come from a background where extension service was poor and workers were actually demotivated, so we are trying to motivate them to make sure that we are moving together because the new administration is advocating for agricultural transformation," he said.

"In this case, we cannot transform agriculture without also transforming the workforce, and what we have done today is one of the gestures to ensure that employees are motivated and that we are all moving in the same direction."

He added that, as part of motivating extension workers, his ministry plans to begin procuring motorcycles to replace the old manual bicycles that they are currently using.

"The extension workers are still using Kapalasa, which is very unfortunate," he said.

"As a ministry, we have set aside some resources to ensure that we begin procuring motorcycles to improve mobility of the extension staff while also motivating them to work hard."

Nancy Namanja, one of the Agriculture Extension Development Officers (AEDOs) from Nkhotakota district, Mtosa Extension Planning Area (EPA), who outshined all extension workers at the event, expressed her delight at being honoured after the event.

"I am now feeling encouraged, and this will motivate me to push forward with my work," Namanja said.

During the event, extension workers were recognized with certificates, smartphones, and bicycles for their dedication and hard work.