Lilongwe April 15: Minister of Trade and Industry, Simplex Chithyola Banda has expressed appreciation on the progress that Producer Organizations’ are making with the support they are receiving from AGCOM (Agricultural Commercialisation).

Chithyola Banda made the remarks when he visited projects' sites in Lilongwe and Ntchisi districts.The minister said he is more than impressed with the determination and seriousness of the POs.He further urged the POs to continue working in togetherness with the support they are receiving from AGCOM to increase production and do value addition to meet both local and international market’s demand.

 The minister also disclosed that his ministry intends to train the POs to equip them with Agro business skills.Chairperson for Ntchisi East Coffee Cooperative Nickson chindugwa hailed AGCOM for the financial support they are providing to the POs.

 He indicated that his organization has so far purchased machinery equipments for processing coffee, a motorcycle and they have also managed to construct a warehouse with the financial assistance from AGCOM.Some of the POs the Minister visited were Ntchisi East Coffee Cooperative, Dzunga Cooperative and Mayade Mushrooms.