By Jacob Nankhonya

Copyright mwnation

Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale has assured that adequate quantities of Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) fertiliser will be stock from Zambia-based fertiliser producers, United General Capital.

Speaking in Kasungu yesterday after launching the programme, the minister said the supplier will supplement quantities the Smallholder Farmers Fertiliser Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) already has in stock.

He said like last year, this year’s programme is targeting 1.1 million smallholder farmers who will be eligible to access two bags of fertiliser at K15 000 each while another category of farmers in cooperatives with at least one hectare of land will access a maximum of four bags at K90 000 each.

Said Kawale: “The farmers’ names and groups will be registered in a system that will be accessible to SFFRFM. The moment they buy from a shop, they can’t buy from any other shop until all eligible farmers nationwide have bought the commodity.”

According to the minister, 300 000 metric tonnes (MT) is required for both AIP and commercial programmes this season out of which about 75 000MT will go to AIP. He said currently, about 30 000MT is already in the country.

In his televised address on Monday evening, President Lazarus Chakwera announced that this year’s AIP will roll out on October 1, with smallholder farmers accessing the commodity at K15 000 per bag while farmers in cooperatives will get it at K90 000 per bag.

Kawale said farmers requiring more subsidised fertiliser will only be considered after all eligible farmers have benefited in the first round.

In his remarks at the launch, Senior Chief Santhe expressed excitement with the programme, assuring that his people will make use of the subsidised inputs to produce more for household food security.

According to the ministry, SFFRFM has 55 shops nationwide but is working on increasing the number to over 200, some of which have already received stock.