By Stanley Nkhondoyachepa

Lilongwe, January 24, Mana: Government through the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) says it hopes to disburse a total of K150 billion worth of loan to 400,000 farmers and business people by close of this financial year.

Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu said this on Thursday at Liwonde in Machinga and Namwera in Mangochi when NEEF distributed fertilizers to farmers who successfully applied for farm input loan.

Kunkuyu noted that there has been a substantial increase in the amount of funds allocated to NEEF this financial year as directed by President Lazarus Chakwera to ensure that many people benefit.

“Last year, government allocated K25 billion to NEEF, which benefited 11,000 farmers but the President directed that this year`s NEEF funds be increased to K150 billion to benefit 400,000 people” he said.

Kunkuyu said as Minister of Information and Government spokesperson, he has a responsibility to monitor the distribution exercise so as to ensure that only deserving farmers and not vendors are benefitting from the loans. as well as give feedback to government on how people want the programme implemented.

“We have heard that people are complaining about how the Affordable Input Programme (AIP) is being implemented. Let me assure you that I will inform the President about your concerns,” he said.

The Minister emphasized the need for fair distribution of the NEEF loans to farmers regardless of political affiliation, saying it is the wish of the President the initiative be nonpolitical.

He challenged the farmers to use the fertilizer in their farms and repay the loan in good time, stressing that a loan needs to be repaid.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Benedicto Chambo, advised the farmers to go into winter cropping so that they realize benefits from the fertilizer loan.

“Since some crops have gone past the fertilizer application stage, I advise you to go into winter cropping, but NEEF has assured us that this year, the distribution exercise will start early,” he said.

Paramount Chief Kawinga of Machinga asked NEEF to consider giving farmers loans for purchase of modern irrigation equipment as well as cash to enable them buy chemicals, observing that farming is also affected by other factors, such as attack by pests and diseases, beside other expenses.

A loan beneficiaries’ representative at Namwera in Mangochi, Leston Kambwiri, hailed the farm input loan initiative by government, saying this will help the farmers have food throughout the year.

He however asked for timely disbursement of the loans to ensure that government’s and farmers’ objectives are achieved.

Since its inception in 2020, NEEF has so far disbursed K184 billion, benefitting over 200,000 people across the country, according to NEEF Chief Executive Officer Humphreys Mdyetseni.