By Memory Chatonda

Blantyre, November 26, Mana: At least 41,860 farmers are expected to receive farm inputs in Blantyre through the Affordable Input Programmme (AIP) currently underway in the district, as 26 selling points would be operating to serve the beneficiary farmers.

Crops Officer for the Blantyre Agriculture Office, Linda Msiska has told Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Tuesday that the district has already established 26 selling points where beneficiary farmers should buy one bag of NPK weighing 50 kilogrammes, one 50 kilogrammes of Urea, and one packet of 5 kilogrammes of maize seed.

“So far, the programme has started on a positive note as the district has been allocated 26 established markets, unlike last season when there were only 20 established markets. This will help ease congestion at selling points. Our target is to ensure that about 41,860 farmers get the inputs,

“In terms of the costing, for one bag of either 50 kilogrammes of NPK or Urea, the beneficiary is contributing K15, 000 only, while the government is shouldering the market difference. For one pack of 5 kilogrammes of cereal seed, the government is contributing K4, 300, and the farmer pays the market difference," she said.

Msiska singled out the mismatch of beneficiary names and IDs as the only challenge faced the programme face, adding that that such case were being referred to the AIP secretariat for assistance.

One of the beneficiaries from Lunzu, Mary Soko, expressed gratitude to the government for supporting the farmers with the inputs and she pledged to use the inputs to increase crop production as opposed to selling.

The AIP in the country is meant to make agricultural inputs more affordable and accessible to farmers.

The programme's goals include increasing agricultural production, helping poor farming households, improve nutrition status, and to build a healthy population.

On October 14, 2024 President, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera launched the 2024/2025 AIP at Dzundu Primary School ground in Neno.