Zomba farmers hopeful about 2024/25 AIP

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.