By Cathy Maulidi:
Civil Society Agriculture Network (Cisanet) has lamented challenges facing the 2024-25 Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP).
It calls on the government to identify funds and address financial challenges plaguing the initiative.
The network’s sentiments, raised in a statement, come after Ministry of Agriculture Principal Secretary responsible for technical services Medrina Mloza Banda told members of the Agriculture Committee of Parliament that only K52 billion of the allocated K161 billion had been disbursed for this year’s AIP.
It also comes after Smallholder Farmers Fertiliser Revolving Fund of Malawi Chief Executive Officer Richard Chikunkhuzeni told members of the committee that only 16,261 metric tonnes (mt) of the expected 104,000mt of essential agricultural inputs had been delivered as of early this month.
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According to a statement signed by Cisanet Board Chairperson Herbert Chagona, the problems threaten the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers who rely heavily on AIP for fertiliser and seeds.
“The timing of these discrepancies could not be worse. As the rainy season commences, smallholder farmers across the country face mounting challenges, from unpredictable weather to soaring input costs and limited access to credit.
“For many, AIP is the only means by which they can access fertilisers to prepare for a successful planting season. The current shortfall, in both funds and supplies, jeopardises not only this season’s agricultural productivity but also the future sustainability of our rural economies,” Chagona says.
Cisanet has, therefore, called on the Ministry of Finance to expedite the disbursement of allocated funds to ensure that the full budget for AIP is released and reaches its intended beneficiaries.
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“We also call on policymakers, development partners and the private sector to collaborate urgently to address this crisis and strengthen the resilience of our agricultural sector.
“Smallholder farmers are the foundation of our agricultural economy, and without timely intervention, we risk not only the well-being of farmers but the very food security of our nation,” the statement reads.
Mloza Banda told members of the Agriculture Committee of Parliament that this year’s AIP was facing significant funding challenges, with only K52 billion released out of the allocated K161.28 billion in the budget.
But Secretary to the Treasury Betchani Tchereni said he had set plans to meet the PS for Agriculture and Chikunkhuzeni to discuss the issues.
“We are meeting to discuss the same issues and many other issues. So, let me not comment here because we have a meeting on the same,” Tchereni said.
