By Wezzie Gausi:
The government is yet to fund the Smallholder Farmers Fertilizer Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) with K195 million, a cost for the feasibility study for the construction of the fertiliser plant in the country.
For many years now, the government has been telling people of the plans to have a fertiliser plant as one way of avoiding the cost of importing fertilisers.
Addressing the Parliamentary Cluster on Agriculture and Natural Resources, SFFRFM Chief Executive Officer Richard Chikunkhuzeni said all the procurement processes were finalized and a consultant for feasibility study has been identified.
He said as it stands four companies namely Ulrakai from Russia, Mardeen Phosphates from Saudi Arabia, Tbea from China and NPK/CTEX from Tatvia have expressed interest as potential partners in the fertilizer production project.
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“This is part of our strategic growth, the fund will continue with the processes for the establishment of a fertilizer plant which will be linked to the soil map of Malawi” Chikunkhuzeni said.
Cluster Co-chairperson Sameer Suleman said the priorities of the government are upside down.
He said the country needed to have this plant a long time ago but there have been delays.
“With the issues of dubious fertiliser deals that keep on happening, one tends to wonder why we do not have our own plant in the country.
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We just hope the Treasury will take this as a serious matter if indeed this budget is to be termed developmental budget,” Suleman said.
Malawi still depends on fertilizers manufactured from other countries for its agriculture activities.
In recent times, the importation of the commodity has encountered numerous challenges like shortages of forex.
