ACE Trains Rural
Staff
By Frank Kadzakumanja
In a bid to increase efficiency and
effectiveness in its operations, Agricultural Commodity Exchange
(ACE) organized a one week training course from 29th
October to November 2nd, 2012 for its enumerators,
warehouse operators and trade agents at its head office in
Lilongwe. Filled with excitement of the new coming season, with
most projects reaching a mature stage, the 5 days session attracted
vibrant and inquisitive participants across 28 markets in Malawi.
The objective of the training was for ACE to equip its staff with
the right knowledge to disburse to smallholder farmers and for them
to fully understand their roles under ACE trading terms and
contracts. This was a follow-up to the first training held in
May, 2012.
|
 Group photo
|
Participants listen to a
presentation by Kristian Schach Moller
|
Speaking on Monday 29thOctober, 2012 in Lilongwe at the
official opening day, Principal Advisor for ACE Kristian Schach
Moller said he was pleased to learn that most trade agents and
enumerators for ACE are doing their job very well especially in
sensitizing the smallholder farmers on the best approaches needed
for them to excel and linking them to better agricultural
markets.
"Looking at the sensitizations
data, I must say that I am very pleased to say that most of you
have sensitized more farmers and more contracts have been generated
under ACE" He said. He further pledged more support for them in
terms of capacity building and resources so that come 2013, all
operations should improve and more farmers across Malawi and beyond
should be reached. Also speaking at the same function was the Trade
facilitation Manager for ACE Miss Edna Chamgwera who said that the
success of ACE lies in the hands of the Trade Agents as they are
responsible for linking the smallholder farmer, who is the main
producer, to the market. "You are the ones that can help push the
volumes traded through the exchange"she said. During the training,
participants learned about ACE trading terms, Warehouse Receipt
System, Esoko, Trade facilitation and Basic Marketing.
Agricultural Commodity Exchange for
Africa (ACE) was established in 2004 and commenced trading on
26th October 2006. National Smallholder Farmers'
Association (NASFAM) initiated establishment of ACE because of a
need to create better market access and to bring more transparency
to the marketplace. ACE strives to establish a regional
Commodity Exchange of the highest integrity, available to all
people in Africa, and acceptable to international traders, based
upon an open, free market system for the mutual benefit of
producers and consumers.
In Malawi, agriculture plays a
vital role in the economy as almost 85% of foreign earnings are
obtained from this sector.