By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, November 27, Mana: Farmers benefiting from the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) in Salima district have commended timely distribution of farming inputs before commencement of steady planting rains in the district.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency on Tuesday, a beneficiary from Nthiwatiwa Village in the area of Traditional Authority Kalonga, Brown Kapoloma said he has redeemed two bags of fertilizer enough for his yield to do well and accord him a good harvest.

The father of 5 said he is optimistic that with the two bags of fertilizer he has received, his family will be food secured as his biggest challenge was farm inputs especially fertilizer.

"Receiving two bags of fertilizer for growth and maturing of my maize means I will not be troubled this farming season. My role will be to ensure that my field is free from weeds and being optimistic that we will have good rains," he said.

Kapoloma said he has made compost manure which will supplement the fertilizer he has received because adding enough nutrients to his field will guarantee him good yields.

Another beneficiary from Group Village Headman Daniel, Sakinna White said she has bought the affordable inputs on time a development she has described as lifesaving because her field was already ploughed and tilled awaiting planting.

"I believe in planting on time and applying fertilizer in good time for me to have good yields therefore once the first rains come I will plant my maize seeds, this will help me to have a bumper harvest because in the past years we used to receive inputs as late as December," she said.

A beneficiary from the area of Traditional Authority Maganga, Hannifa Mustafa said this is her first to be included amongst beneficiaries of AIP.

Mustafa expressed optimism that with the inputs she has affordably redeemed hunger will be alleviated in her household.

According to Principal Agriculture Officer for Salima Agriculture Office Reuben Banda, said 29,688 beneficiaries have been targeted to benefit from the programme.

"I can confirm that in all the 12 Traditional Authorities in the district the inputs are being sold, all the selling points are having stocks of inputs from time to time, we are estimating that by mid-December all our targeted beneficiaries will have received their inputs," he said.

He however mentioned that some unscrupulous sellers are managing to maneuver the system and sell inputs without the knowledge of beneficiaries, he was quick to mention that police have been involved in the such matters and some people have been brought to book.

"Challenges are inevitable in this programme the advantage is that these challenges are being reported and rectified within the quickest of time, we have also been facing network challenges in some areas but this is just minor because network is being restored quickly," he said.

On her part Traditional Authority Maganga, hailed the programme for its efforts to alleviate hunger in her area by pointing out that beneficiaries of programme are buying inputs in her area without many challenges.

"It is pleasing to note that beneficiaries are redeeming their inputs on time because we have not received serious rains warranting planting of maize, therefore I can confidently say that the programme is on course in my area," she said.

Beneficiaries under AIP are redeeming inputs at K15,000 and are also redeeming maize seed, the AIP aims to provide affordable fertilizers and agricultural resources to farmers capable of cultivating enough food.