By Mercy Matonga:
The Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) has again witnessed a season marked by controversy, logistic chaos and questions about sustainability.
Recent data from the Ministry of Agriculture shows that this year’s programme has registered a slow distribution rate compared to the figure registered in the previous growing season in the same period.
According to data from the ministry, NPK has sold 43 percent, which is lower than the quantity sold during the corresponding season.
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“NPK [the number sold is] 449,528 bags [or] 22,476 metric tonnes (mt), representing 43 percent which is lower than [the] same time season when it was 92 percent Urea [;] 494,484 bags [sold or] 24,724mt, representing 47 percent which is lower than [the] same time last season when it [was] 78 percent making a total of 944,012 bags [or] 47,201mt representing 45 percent which is lower than [the] same time last season when it was 85 percent,” the document reads.
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According to the data, three districts from the Northern Region are the highest, at 69 percent sales, followed by the Central Region with 48 percent nd the Southern Region, at 29 percent for both Urea and NPK.
The data further indicates that 414,247 bags of NPK or 20,712.35mt have been dispatched, which is 39.51 percent [or] 518,653 bags of Urea, 25,932.65mt have been dispatched, which is 49.47 percent and, in total, 932,900 bags, 46,645mt have been dispatched, representing 44.49 percent.
Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale did not respond to the questionnaire that we sent.
According to the Ministry of Finance, through its spokesperson Williams Banda, all funds that were channelled towards AIP were given to the Ministry of Agriculture.
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“The AIP was funded 100 percent. Treasury and [the Ministry of] Agriculture are working to ensure smooth implementation of the AIP,” Banda said.
In a separate interview, Farmers Union of Malawi (Fum) Chief Executive Officer Jacob Nyirongo said, currently, the organisation does not have national figures.
But Nyirongo said submissions from Fum members indicate that increased cases of corruption, high levels of stockouts, missing names, and the remote location of redemption points are among the main reasons why farmers have failed to redeem inputs.
He further said Fum has not been coordinating well with the ministry to coordinate the distribution.
“Initially, the ministry set up an inclusive National AIP Taskforce Committee of which Fum was a member. We had hoped we would be engaging through that committee.
“However, since the onset of AIP implementation, the committee has not been meeting,” Nyirongo said.
Commenting on the matter, agriculture Expert Leonard Chimwaza said the current distribution had the potential to affect the outcome of this year’s harvest.
“Government needs to be prudent in the planning and execution of the project itself. It is very important to have all the important arrangements in place before the glowing season and careful consideration of transporters, as some do only have money but no capacity, [should be made],” Chimwaza said.
The 2024-25 AIP was officially launched in Neno District with the goal of reaching over 1.1 million farmers.
AIP, a government initiative launched by President Lazarus Chakwera, aims to provide subsidise fertiliser and seeds to smallholder farmers, thereby boosting food security and alleviating poverty across the country.
