By Chisomo Kmabandanga

Nkhata Bay, November 28, Mana: The timely sale of Affordable Inputs Program (AIP) has generated immense excitement among communities in Nkhata Bay saying this will enable smallholder famers to access essential farming inputs paving way for increased crop yield and income.

In an interview on Thursday at Mkumbira resource centre selling point, Luti Kasambala from Chilerawana village in the area of Senior Chief MKumbira said was happy to have secured her bags of fertilizer which will enable her focus on other things.

“I am very grateful to government that this year I have benefited from this programme which was not the case last year. Today I have accessed the bags of fertilizer and now will just be waiting for the rains while finalising preparing my field,” she said.

According to Kasambala, there is hope that in the 2024/2025 farming season produce from her farm will be increased.

Another beneficiary, Esther Nkhwazi from Usisya in the area of Traditional Authority M’bwana said she will use the two bags of fertilizers redeemed for its intended purpose as it is a step further towards achieving food security at her home.

In his remarks, Chairperson for Mkumbira Area Development Committee, Mavuto Kaunda expressed optimism that by the end of December this year, beneficiaries at Nkhata Bay Central Constituency will have redeemed their fertilisers.

“Currently, 635 bags of NPK and 681 bags of NPK have been redeemed in this constituency which has an allocation of 1,428 households to benefit translating to about 48 percent of fertilizer sold within three weeks.

“If the network will be stable and have continued supply of fertilizer, by mid-December everyone will have redeemed their bags of AIP which is encouraging,” he said.

Councillor for Usisya ward, Brown Chizeze, who is also Vice Chairperson for Nkhata Bay District Council commended government for timely targeting Usisya, a very hard to reach area, with fertilizers where about 200 bags have already been redeemed.

He further asked for special consideration to increase the load and frequency so that people can access their agriculture inputs before the roads are impassable considering the approaching rainy season.

Commenting on the matter, Director of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Raphael Mkisi said apart from network challenges selling of AIP commodities is progressing well in the district.

“On average we have two selling points at each of the six constituencies and at least each selling point has fertilizer. The need for the beneficiary of the program to be physically present with the National Identity card has helped to tighten security and also taken vendors out of the system resulting into sanity in selling points,” he said.

He therefore advised farmers not to sale the fertilizer to effectively achieve the program’s goal of making Malawi a food secured nation.

Launched on October 14, 2024 in Neno by President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, the 2024/2025 AIP is expected to benefit 12,540 famers in Nkhata Bay.

By Mana Reporter

Zomba, November 27, Mana: The 2024/25 Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) has raised hope for many smallholder farmers in Zomba, promising improved food security and economic stability for farming households.

For Zione Hassan, a 32-year-old single mother of two, this year’s AIP marks a turning point. After years of poor harvests caused by limited access to essential inputs, Zione finally received fertilizer and seeds through the initiative. The program, aimed at over 1.1 million beneficiaries nationwide, is designed to help farmers improve yields and break the cycle of hunger.

"With the fertilizer and seeds, I am hopeful that my harvests will improve, and I can provide for my children’s education. In the long run, I want to grow my income through agribusiness to afford to pay for their school fees," she says, adding that feeding her children well and educating them is her top priority. 

The story is similar for Charles Likoya, another Zomba-based AIP beneficiary, who previously struggled to harvest enough yield due to lack of affordable fertilizers. This development had severe consequences for his family of seven, leading to food insecurity in previous seasons. Now, Likoya is optimistic about the future. 

"With the fertilizer I bought through AIP, I expect a better harvest this season. I hope this will mean more food for my family and an end to the hunger we experienced last year," he says.

For 64-year-old Lydia Ntaja, the AIP has been a lifeline, helping her take care of her two grandchildren whose mother works as a housemaid outside town and only sends home a small portion of her earnings to support the household.

Consequently, Ntaja often rented out part of her farmland for MK15,000 a month just to survive. However, this income was insufficient to afford commercial fertilizers, leading to poor yields. But now with the government covering most of the input costs through AIP, she managed to purchase two bags of fertilizer using her savings and part of the proceeds from her daughter. 

"This program has eased my burden. I believe I will now be able to harvest enough to feed my family and maybe even sell a little to earn some money," she says.

Zomba AIP Coordinator, Limbani Thangata, discloses that the district has 35,174 beneficiaries in this year’s programmes. He also highlights the 2024/25 AIP’s potential to improve food security in the district. 

"This programme is crucial for addressing food insecurity and poverty. That is why we are urging beneficiaries to use the inputs responsibly and avoid selling them to ensure the programme achieves its intended impact," he says.

Senior Chief Malemia concurs with Thangata but stresses the need for expansion and complementary measures to strengthen this year’s AIP impact.

"The government should increase the number of beneficiaries. Other players such as One Acre Fund should also complement these efforts by increasing the reach of their seed and fertiliser input loan programme. We’ve seen how their support helps farmers overcome hunger and grow economically," he advises.

The senior chief also encourages farmers to use organic fertilizers such as manure as a cost-effective alternative besides other sustainable practices.

According to Agricultural Extension Development Coordinator for Malosa, Stanslous Minjolo, organic fertilisers can help farmers whose fields have sandy-loam soils that lose nutrients easily.

“Such soils do not hold water so, combining organic and inorganic fertilizers can significantly boost crop yields," he explains.

With more beneficiaries expressing hope in this year’s AIP programme, farmers in Zomba are also looking forward to better harvests as they prepare for the 2024/25 growing season.

By Leah Malimbasa

Blantyre, 27 November, Mana: Farmers and fertilizer distributors at Lirangwe Trading Centre in Blantyre have said the updated Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) system has helped to curb unscrupulous traders that previously exploited the programme by posing as beneficiaries. 

Speaking to Mana on Wednesday, Sautso Mustafa, a farmer from Chapasuka Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Chigaru in Blantyre, said in the past it was easy for vendors to infiltrate the system, a move that deprived many genuine beneficiaries. 

“The vendors had their ways of buying the subsidized farm inputs using the National Identity Cards (IDs) at the expense of legitimate poor farmers,” she said.

Freen Masiye, who is also a smallholder farmer, agrees with Mustafa that the system is good because it deters misuse.

According to Lirangwe Smallholder Farmers Fertilizer Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) Outlet Sales Officer, Lexa Makina, the new system has simplified their work and increased accountability.  

"We now verify every beneficiary through their details before selling the fertilizer to ensure that the subsidized inputs go to the intended beneficiaries, not vendors," adds Makina. 

Some farmers and distributors also said the AIP’s tighter controls have restored confidence in its ability to support smallholder farmers, but urged authorities to address network glitches that sometimes cause delays in purchasing the fertilizer at some selling points.  

By Ireen Mseteka

Likoma, November 27, Mana: Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) beneficiaries in Chizumulu have praised the government for providing subsidized fertilizer, stating that it will play a significant role in reducing hunger in their households.

In an interview on Wednesday, Loveness Chavula from Msalowa Village said the program will help people to harvest bumper yields hence sustaining their livelihoods as people will have adequate maize in their homes.

“The program will help many people to harvest adequate maize, meaning that at least we are going to save a lot of money from buying expensive maize from vendors, many households will be relieved of hunger,” said Chavula.

Another beneficiary, Brave Malawila from Chizumulu, expressed his satisfaction with the program, noting that he only pays a small amount for the fertilizer and has not faced any challenges in accessing it.

“We access the fertilizer without encountering any problems, government pays a lot of money on our behalf and we are only paying MK30,000 for NPK and Urea, government is doing a commendable job for us, otherwise its not easy for many to buy from the shops,” said Malawila.

He then thanked government for the program and asked fellow beneficiaries to use the fertilizer for the intended purpose.

The 2024/25 Affordable Inputs Programme in Malawi is a program that is aimed at providing affordable Agriculture Inputs to farmers, its goal is to improve food security, nutrition and agricultural productivity.

By Beauty Ziba

Nkhotakota, November 27, Mana: Cooperation Development Foundation of Canada (CDF) is set to implement a five-year Integrated Aquaculture Agriculture Systems project in Nkhotakota district, as one way of combatting food Insecurity in Malawi.

In an interview after a District Executive Committee meeting held at the Nkhotakota District Council Chamber on Tuesday, CDF Forest Extension Specialist, Batson Mazungwi, said the project is integrating different components such as fishponds, livestock agriculture, crops and trees whereby if people adopt it, they will be able to harvest more food and generate more income as well as better nutrition.

"We want to train fish farmers through our partners so that they should be able to produce more high-quality dependable products and supply to the market throughout the country and beyond,” said Mazungwi.

Principal Fisheries Officer, Wyson Ngwira, commended the coming of the project to Nkhotakota, saying it is directly addressing some of the issues they are facing in the district.

‘We have many fish farmers in Nkhotakota with over 400 individual fishponds on a subsistence basis and the coming in of CDF Canada bringing in components on upscaling and marketing will help boost fish business for farmers across the district,’ said Ngwira.

Principal Agriculture Officer, Prince Shaibu, is looking forward to work with the organization in Nkhotakota to ensure the goals of combating food insecurity are achieved.

By George Mponda

Karonga, November 27, Mana: Traditional chiefs and Karonga District Council officials have joined forces to impound stray cattle found roaming the streets of Karonga Town in a move to boost sanitation and public safety,

In an interview with Malawi News Agency Wednesday, Group Village Head (GVH) Mwahimba said for some long time traders, customers and residents around Karonga Town have been complaining of the cattle which were just loitering around.

"In a collaborative effort, together with GVH Katolola, GVH Mweniyumba, and the ward councillor, we formulated new bylaws stating that any cow found roaming in town will be impounded, and owners must pay a K50,000 fee for its return."

"To this end, before commencing this operation we went around informing residents about the development and yesterday, we managed to impound over 100 cattle which are being kept at the Main Market Slaughterhouse and some owners have already come to get their livestock," Mwahimba said.

The GVH explained that since the individuals impounding the cattle are doing this on a voluntary basis, some of the money from the fines will be used as an upkeep allowance for them.

On her part, Tereza Mhango from Luhimbo Village who had her cow impounded said she will now be tethering it to ensure she is not fined anymore.

"I left my cow with a herdsman but he just let it run around and thats when it was brought here. I have paid K50 000 of my hard earned money to get it back and I have learnt a bitter lesson from this," he said.

Karonga Main Market Chairperson, Godwin Ghambi expressed frustration that despite repeated warnings, cattle owners have ignored pleas to keep their cattle from roaming freely, leaving authorities with no choice but to take action.

"Cows were eating vegetables on sale, obstructing traffick and defecating anywhere leaving a pungent smell around Karonga Town. If people cannot manage to keep their cattle responsibly around town, then it is better to send the cows to the village where they can roam freely without causing havoc," he said.