All Malawi Summit 2023 On Agriculture 2063

6th-7th February 2023 Lilongwe, LUANAR Campus

Bringing Malawi together to build a working plan for Malawi to improve agriculture with technology and great education

Goal of The Summit

The plan is to bring all people together who actively work or plan to work on solutions to enhance agriculture, health care, and rural development in Africa in the spirit and vision of Africa and Malawi agenda 2063.

The Age of The Internet

The internet has changed the face of our world in mesmerizing speed. It brings the opportunity of a century to the previous disadvantaged countries and continents like Africa. The internet allows exchange of information in real-time between any place on earth. With the Internet of Things (IoT) this is not only an exchange between humans but also between machines. The big data amassed by the IoT devices make it possible that machines analyse them to get new insights and make reasonable smart decisions.

Our path to success for Africa is to focus education on technology and engineering based on the new Industries 4.0 paradigm.

The skills that young people acquire will enable them to form a new industry that is designed for the local needs. New devices can help the small farmers and households. Improvements in small farming will guarantee food supply locally and produce goods that can be traded around the globe.

Eventually the next generation will be engineers that can find an employment everywhere in the world and many of them will do good things for their own home country.

Under the patronage of Government of Republic of Malawi

  • Honourable Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale

Organized by

  • University of Livingstonia (UNILIA), Mzuzu
  • Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Lilongwe

Opening Keyword by

  • His Excellency President of the Republic of Malawi Lazarus Chakwera[1]
  • Prof. Emmanuel Kaunda, Vice Chancellor LUANAR, Lilongwe
  • The Very Rev Assoc. Prof. Timothy Nyasulu, Vice Chancellor UNILIA, Mzuzu

In Cooperation with

  • Honourable Minister of Information and Digitalization, Gospel Kazako
  • Honourable Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Agnes Nyalonje
  • Honourable Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Sosten Alfred Gwengwe
  • Honourable Minister of Health, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda
  • Honourable Minister of Trade and Industry, Mark Katsonga Phiri

Guest Countries[2]

  • Republic of Mozambique
  • Republic of Zambia
  • Republic of Zimbabwe
  • United Republic of Tanzania

International Advisors and Keynote Speakers

  • Mr Axel Angeli, Logosworld, Germany – Smart Agriculture 4.0 Evangelist
  • Mr Jasper Bhaumick, BIZPANDO, Switzerland – International Supply Chain
  • N.N., GIZ Germany – Association for International Cooperation
  • N.N., UNESCO

Agenda

Moderator: Mr. Axel Angeli

Agenda Day 1

Day 1: 09h30-10h50. 75min.
  • Welcome Speech

Prof. Emmanuel Kaunda. Vice Chancellor-LUANAR

  • Introduction to Agriculture 2063 and Summit Agenda

The Very Rev Asoc. Prof. Timothy Nyasulu. Vice Chancellor-UNILIA

  • Inaugural Speech Address

His Excellency Lazarus Chakwera. President of Malawi and Chancellor of LUANAR

Oecumenic prayers and minute of silence for peace in the world

Day 1: 11h00-11h30. 20min.
  • Malawi Agenda 2063 Vision

Honourable Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale

The minister of agriculture of Malawi will present the vision and implementation milestone of the Malawi 2063 agenda that goes hand in hand with the Agenda 2063 agreed by the members of the African Union in 2013 for a better Africa

Day 1: 11h30-12h00. 20min.
  • Smart Agriculture 2063 as a solution for the century’s challenges of Africa

Mr Axel Angeli, Logosworld 50 Experts, Germany

Agriculture 2063 is Malawi’s vision that includes Agriculture 4.0 that is based agriculture based on the Germany’s vision of the design concept Industries 4.0 are the promise for the future. The internet allows a new form of industry in agriculture that helps small farmers and remote and rural places to enhance their yield and guarantee not only food supply but promises education and employment for the next generation and independence from multinationals. Modern Artificial Intelligence allows young people the education as engineers and close the gap to the industrial nations. It will enable them to innovate for the needs of their local communities.

Day 1: 12h00-12h30. 20min.
  • German Dual Education System for Vocational and Academic Skilling

Mr Jasper Bhaumick, BIZPANDO, Switzerland

The success of European engineers is dependent on the form of education. In most countries students first go to school, then university and eventually are trained for a job. In many European countries students are engaged as apprentices by industry and visit the academy in parallel to an employment to learn the theory and standards. Since students do vocational and academic training in parallel it is known as Dual Studies.

Day 1: 12h30-13h00. 20min.
  • Education in Malawi and needs to adjust for the future challenges

Prof Bernard C.G. Kamanga, Deputy Vice Chancellor, UNILIA, Mzuzu

One of the goals in education is to cater for certificates to students that are endorsed in other places in the world. In order to improve and align education in Malawi and neighbouring countries we need to understand the current situation of education. We shall hear what needs to improve and where help is needed.

Day 1: 13h00-15h00

Networking Break with lunch

Day 1: 15h00-15h30. 20min.
  • United Nations support for Agenda Africa 2063

N.N., UNESCO.

UNESCO is the United Nation’s organization to improve education and guarantee preservation of culture heritage and want to hear how UNESCO helps Africa.

Day 1: 15h30-16h00. 20min.
  • Hiatus

N.N., GIZ/KfW.

Germany is a great supporter of Africa. They assist in education and in projects that improve living conditions. German’s KfW – German Investment Bank – provides financial help for sustainable projects supported by the government of Germany and EU.

Day 1: 16h00-16h30. 20min.
  • The role of females and minorities

Agnes Nyalonje. Minister of Education, Science and Technology.

Day 1: 17h00-17h30. 20min.
  • Sustainable Development Goals

N.N. Professor from Rural Development group LUANAR.

Networking break with high tea

Day 1: 18h00-18h45. 40min.
  • The African View: How to enter markets and supply chains with the Global North

Mark Katsonga Phiri. Hon. Minister of Trade and Industry of Malawi.

  • The European View: How to enter markets and supply chains with the Global North

Axel Angeli. Logosworld.

Africa suffers from many difficulties when it tries to enter markets of the Global North. Being compliant and using technology to produce for the needs for the market while guaranteeing market compliance are a door that can make Africa a serious player.

Day 1: 18h45-19h30. 45min.
  • (End of day 1): Agriculture 2063 Dual Studies Project

Axel Angeli, Jasper Bhaumick, Timothy Nyasulu, N.N. (LUANAR)

UNILIA, LUANAR in cooperation with Logosworld 50 Experts want to adopt the German Education Model of Dual Studies to Malawi with the goal to bring students great technology training while allowing certificates endorsed by European universities. In cooperation with selected universities in Europe and India local students will be given a project that they will execute completely alone from the idea, via feasibility, financing, design to implementation, marketing, and go-to-market. All projects shall have a positive impact for the country and help rural and remote places. Professors and professionals will be their mentors, the resulting product will be the work of students.

Day 1: 20h00-22h30

Evening Function and Get-together Day 1

At the end of day one we shall gather for a common networking event with non-alcoholic drinks and great food for dinner. Purpose of the evening is to make personal acquaintance with each other and discuss the agenda in fruitful discourse. We will have a program that is designed to animate communication.

Agenda Day 2 (Workshop Day)

  • Opening words

His Excellency Very Reverend Timothy Nyasulu, Vice Chancellor UNILIA

On the second day we shall meet in smaller groups and discuss the various needs of Malawi. The purpose is to identify the needs of Malawi in agriculture, health care and economic development and agree on priorities. At the end we shall discuss together the results and see which requirements can be packed into Dual Studies projects.

  • Workgroup A: Potentials and Blocking issues of Agriculture in Malawi

Moderator: William Chanza (National Planning Commission)

The goal: The economy of Malawi and their neighbouring countries is agriculture based with at least 30% contribution to the GDP. However, only a fraction of its potential is exploited as a result of numerous blocking issues and factors. This workgroup is thus aimed at identifying such potentials and the blocking issues within the adoption of the Dual Studies in the region. It also needs to look at how the potentials can be harnessed to create a conducive environment for improving agriculture in Malawi.

  • Workgroup T: State of IT and engineering skills in Malawi and ways to improve

N.N.: A professor from LUANAR

The goal: The youth of Malawi and their neighbouring countries requires key skills to be self-reliant, graduate from poverty and effectively contribute to the development of the country. IT and Engineering skills are some of the must have skills for lifelong development competencies. The goal of this workgroup is to have a comprehensive assessment of the state of the IT and engineering skills, identify potential entry points and gaps for improvement. This is important to inform universities to position themselves to engage in training for the acquisition of key skills by the youths.

  • Workgroup H: State of healthcare in Malawi and ways to improve

Moderator: Associate Professor Balwani Mbakaya – UNILIA

The goal: For meaningful development of any country, the health care is a key component. Malawi and their neighbouring countries is committed to improving access to the health services, but there are still several challenges. This workgroup should identify the level of the health care in the country, identify challenges that would hinder the impactful implementation of the Dual Studies and identify ways of improving the state of the healthcare within the broader goal of the Dual Studies in the region.

  • Workgroup R: Needs of rural areas and how technology can help to improve

Moderator: N.N., Professor from the Rural Department at Luanar

The goal: Most of development discussions in the region centres on the development of the rural communities as a priority of focus. This realises the importance and power the communities have in developing the countries. Many of the needs of the rural people are known and this workgroup has to identify the needs that would help the impactful implementation of the Dual Studies with the rural communities to improve agricultural productivity and production. Universities must continue to play a critical catalyst role in this development, utilising the Dual Studies approach.

  • Workgroup D: Transport and technology infrastructure and state of development

Moderator: Professor Alexander Kalimbira

The goal: Transport and technology infrastructure is a vital backbone of every well-functioning economy. The Dual Studies increases the likelihood for graduates to acquire technical skills for improvement of transport and technology infrastructure, whose state at the moment is poor. This workgroup aims at identifying the level of technological gaps in the transport sector and how these gaps can be harnessed using the Dual Studies for greater impact in economic development.

Mentors:

  • Axel Angeli, Logosworld
  • Jasper Bhaumick, BIZPANDO
  • Prof. Bernard Kamanga, UNILIA
  • Prof. M’bakaye, UNILIA
  • N.N., LUANAR
  • Thumbiko Shumba, Private Sector Malawi

Student Mentors (“The good bees”)

Patrick Byamasu

Rebecca Chindenga

Harry Kumwenda

Endnotes

  1. Since the President is also the Chancellor of the university, it should be a motivation to have him at least for a greeting note in person ↑
  2. Note: In case we shall have guests from neighbouring countries like Mozambique, Tanzania or Zambia we will tweak the agenda to accommodate also their topics. ↑