Medef loan scheme to boost production

The Malawi Enterprise Development Fund (Medef) on Friday launched its fertiliser loan scheme in the Southern Region during a ceremony held in Luchenza, Thyolo.

Medef Head of Operations, Hillary Jalafi, said the scheme provides the opportunity for firms and individuals to get fertiliser on credit.

The launch of the initiative comes at a time the number of beneficiaries under the government-led Farm Input Subsidy Programe has been shrinking in recent years.

Jalafi said Medef has set up an efficient mechanism to identify beneficiaries of the scheme.

Among the yardsticks, borrowers will be expected to have about 20 percent of the loan amount.

“This is a big opportunity for Malawians to access fertiliser on credit,” Jalafi said.

Thyolo District Crops Officer, Fredson Banda, urged farmers in the district to take advantage of the opportunity to boost crop production.

Banda appealed to the communities to ensure that they pay back the loans.

One of the beneficiaries, Bertha Saikonde, who is also Group Village Headman Chonde, thanked Medef for rolling out the loan scheme.