Farmers Union of Malawi (Fum) has asked the government to move with speed on subsidised farm input programmes, saying time is running out.
Fum President Maness Nkhata told The Daily Times that their expectation was that a minister of agriculture would have been among the first Cabinet positions filled by the newly elected administration.
President Peter Mutharika appointed three Cabinet ministers; Ministers of Finance and Economic Affairs, Foreign Affairs and State.
According to Nkhata, for the past four years, farm input subsidy programmes have been commencing late, apart from lacking transparency and accountability.
“We, therefore, request the new government to ensure that AIP [Affordable Inputs Programme] successor programmes are implemented timely and [that[ there are transparent and accountable mechanisms for farmer identification and targeting.
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“In addition to fertiliser, the government should make sure that successor programmes to AIP should have a deliberate consideration to support farmers to access improved seeds. For the past four years, the cost of seed has increased by more than 200 percent, hence most farmers are now using recycled seed that is less productive,” Nkhata said.
Before being booted out of power in the September 16, 2025 Presidential Election, Lazarus Chakwera said farmers would start redeeming inputs under AIP on October 1.
Additionally, the previous regime introduced the Affordable Fertiliser Programme, which enabled farmers to access a 50-kilogramme bag at K90,000.
Nkhata said farmers would be in support of any agriculture programme that helps them to access farm inputs, be it fertiliser or seed, at an affordable price.
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“It is for this reason that we were happy when the previous government introduced a number of programmes that focus on supporting farmers with inputs.
“However, the problem has been poor implementation. We, hence, support the idea of sustaining the Affordable Fertiliser Programme but it should be adjusted to include seed,” she said.
During his inauguration, President Peter Mutharika indicated that inputs such as fertiliser would be a priority.
Agriculture policy expert Leonard Chimwaza agreed with Nkhata that the country needed to have a Minister of Agriculture soon to steer the implementation of input programmes, stressing that farmers do not have luxury of time.
Chimwaza said any programme that would assist farmers to shore up productivity would be welcome.
“What is important now, in regards to direction, is the quick appointment of the Minister of Agriculture because it is the minister who can now steer the continuity or realignment of these programmes as agreed by Cabinet. But, at the moment, we have technocrats at the Ministry of Agriculture who are supposed to be giving us progress reports,” Chimwaza said.
This year, at least K131 billion was allocated to AIP.
