By James Mwale

Ntchisi, November 28, Mana: Affordable Input Program (AIP) Coordinator for Ntchisi Salim Mndoka has advised AIP beneficiaries to venture into other forms of farming methods in order to increase productivity in the district.

Mndoka told Malawi News Agency on Wednesday that following the reduction of AIP beneficiaries from 44, 980 the last rainy season to 31,011 this rainy season due to budget allocation from the treasury, people in the district should apply other farming methods like use of organic manure and irrigation farming in order to address hunger issues.

He said the devaluation of the kwacha has led to hike in fertilizer prices making Ministry of Agriculture to maintain only the fertilizer prices and not the number of beneficiaries.

He said: “the decrease means that government did not want farmers to be buying the fertilizer at a higher price but rather it has maintained the MK15, 0000 price and reducing the number of beneficiaries.

“Farmers in the district should desist from selling the affordable inputs but rather use the inputs to good use because they should know that they will not be benefiting each and every year.”

The district’s Council Chairperson councilor Marko Mtengo said the program has made a lot of people in the district to be self-reliant saying farmers are encouraged not only to rely on the program but also to use available resources in their communities.

Mtengo called on the beneficiaries of this year’s Affordable Input Program to make good use of the fertilizer and other inputs they are to access through the program saying it is sad to see that a lot of beneficiaries sell the inputs instead of using them wisely.

“As people have already started buying the inputs in the district I believe that there will not be any challenges that will affect the program and we believe that no cases of theft will be registered” He added.

Memory Yohane a beneficiary of this year’s AIP said she was happy that her name had been included in the program and hoped to benefit a lot from the same.

She has since concurred with the Mndoka and Mtengo on the need to apply alternative farming methods other than full reliance on the AIP.