Making farmers food secure with AIP

Lilongwe, November 28, Mana: Belia Chipeta, 78, from Kajiso Shaba Village in Traditional Authority Mthwalo in Mzimba, never believed that the Affordable Input Programme (AIP) truly existed.

Since the programme was established years ago, she had never benefited, which made her feel that only those connected to the Member of Parliament or related to chiefs were privileged to access it.

For decades, her farming journey yielded no significant results. Her household endured hunger year in and year out because she could not afford fertilizer and had to rely on a few kilos sold by vendors, which were never enough.

The years of insufficient harvests left Chipeta struggling to provide enough food for her family, making food security an unattainable dream.

However, everything changed when she learned her name was among the beneficiaries for the 2024-2025 farming season. She felt a surge of joy, knowing she would now farm with renewed hope and peace of mind.

“When I heard that my name had been considered to buy affordable fertilizer, I jumped in disbelief because I knew that my challenges with food security were finally over," said Chipeta.

"Today, I have managed to buy two bags, which will be enough for my garden. I believe this will transform my household from being food insecure to food secure," she added.

Chipeta thanked the government for introducing the programme, saying it is a game-changer for agricultural productivity.

Another beneficiary, Eleaner Kanyimbo from Chilongozi Village in Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe's area in Rumphi district, also commended the AIP saying it has potential to make people food secure and expressed her gratitude for being included in the programme.

"As a beneficiary this year, I feel honoured to be among those buying fertilizer. I am confident I will have enough food next year," said Kanyimbo.

She also appreciated the government’s efforts to ensure fertilizer is available on time and with minimal hurdles.

"I was nervous when I heard about issues like network problems, mismatched names, and other glitches. But all those have been resolved. I believe that by next year, I will not only have enough food but also surplus to sell, which will help pay school fees for my children and buy other household necessities," she added.

From Ekwendeni in Mzimba North, Blessings Twea echoed Kanyimbo's sentiments, emphasizing that the price of fertilizer on the market is unaffordable for many farmers, but AIP has made it possible for them to access it.

"We thank the government for being considerate. There are farmers who are elderly or living with disabilities who cannot afford to raise over MK100,000 for fertilizer. This programme provides a much-needed cushion for such people," said Twea.

Senior Group Village Headwoman Mankhambira from Nkhatabay also expressed her gratitude, saying the programme will significantly improve food security in communities.

"Many people could not harvest enough in the last growing season because they could not afford fertilizer. The AIP will help farmers produce enough, as fertilizer is now within their reach. So far, there have been no problems; people are buying freely," she said.

Programmes Manager for Mzuzu Agricultural Development Division (ADD), Anderson Chikomola, said that this year’s AIP has targeted 101,914 beneficiaries across the four district councils of M'mbelwa, Rumphi, Nkhatabay, and Likoma.

Chikomola said the programme has begun smoothly, with 94 selling points established across the ADD where farmers are already redeeming their inputs.

"We have prioritized hard-to-reach areas so that farmers have ample time to buy fertilizer and seeds before the rains start," he explained.

"Additionally, the programme has a multifaceted approach. Beyond AIP, some farmers are benefiting from NEEF loans and livestock initiatives. We believe this programme will not only ensure food security for farmers but also enable them to sell surplus, creating opportunities for others to benefit," Chikomola added.