By Steve Chirombo

Dedza, January 4, Mana: Government has disclosed plans to revive farmers clubs as one way of ensuring food security and economic growth among its citizenry across the country.

Minister of Information and Digitalization, Moses Kumkuyu, disclosed on Friday when he launched the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) fertilizer loan programme in Dedza district.

The minister said during Kamuzu era, Malawi did a lot of farming thereby increasing exports, which in return brought in more forex into the country.

“That relieved us from some challenges. We had more drugs in hospitals and most goods and services were cheap. It’s just unfortunate that when other administrations came in, they overlooked that aspect but the Chakwera administration is restoring that lost glory,” he said

He added that hence government’s commitment to ensure farmers clubs are activated and that they receive the necessary support.

Kunkuyu further hailed communities in Dedza for coming together heeding to the call while emphasizing that Dedza has for a long time been a producing district.

“You can agree with me by looking at what we see when passing through the district’s trading centres. Let me ask those beneficiaries to seriously use the farm inputs for the intended purposes so that together we achieve the country’s aspirations for the Malawi 2063 agenda,” he stated.

On his part, NEEF, Board Chairperson, Jephta Mtema, said unlike in the last farming season when K27 billion was allocated towards the same which saw 11,500 farmers benefitting across the country, the 2024/25 season has an allocation of K150 billion.

“Through this, we expect to reach 400,000 farmers across the country. So far, K15 billion cash has been disbursed and 48,000 bags of fertilizers have been distributed since October 2024. Of this figure, 14,000 were NPK while 34,000 were Urea,” said Mtema.

Dedza District Council, Chief Agriculture Officer, Matilda Mtambo, hailed government through NEEF for reaching out to the district adding the diversification by the loan institution from solely providing cash loans to giving out farm inputs to farmers is a game changer.

“We appreciate this timely action which will greatly benefit our farmers. Let me also emphasize here that our office is committed to make proper follow-ups to ensure that the farm inputs being provided are being used for the intended purposes,” she said.

Inkosi Kamenyagwaza and one of the beneficiary farmers, Mirriam Pakhale from Tikhadzikitse Women Club under Mpalale Village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Kasumbu, hailed the move by government to ensure that farmers can also access farm inputs from NEEF on a loan basis while promising to do their best in order to achieve the programme’s objectives.

The chief further stated that it was pleasing to note that the programme is reaching out to everyone regardless of their political affiliations.

“This is a good initiative and if properly implemented, we won’t be the same in years to come. We will work hand in hand with government so that the beneficiaries can pay back the loan so that others can benefit too,” said Inkosi Kamenyagwaza.

In Dedza district, the launch took place in areas of Lobi, Linthipe and Boma which among other officials, Martha Kwataine, presidential advisor on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), participated as an observer of the programme.

By Aubrey Ghambi

Nkhata Bay, January 3, Mana: About 212 houses in Nkhata Bay district have been damaged following heavy rains accompanied by strong winds in the district on Wednesday.

Nkhata Bay District Council Spokesperson Chisomo Kambandanga confirmed the development in an interview on Thursday.

He said the rains covered a wide range of areas; however, the affected houses are in the areas of Traditional Authorities Fukamalaza, Mkondowe, Mndola, Khoza, and Senior Chief Timbiri.

"In the last two days of 2024 up to the day we were celebrating the New Year; most areas received heavy rains, which was accompanied by strong winds causing damage to several houses.

 "This has left most people homeless as walls of their houses were damaged, and roofs blown off, among others.  Through an assessment and verification exercise the council conducted, I can confirm that 212 households have been affected,” Kambandanga said.

According to Kambandanga, the rains also affected some school blocks where roofs have been blown off in the mentioned areas.

"A report has been sent to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) as the affected families require numerous essential items," he added.

Councilor for Kandoli Ward, Osman Charge Phiri said that the affected households need urgent assistance of food, basic needs like clothes, and support to reconstruct their damaged houses for them to resume normal life.

One of the affected household members, Mary Manda, from the area of Senior Chief Timbiri said the disaster has heavily impacted her household.

"This has greatly affected us, as instead of focusing on farming, our attention will be diverted to rebuilding our home, which may lead to hunger in the next season,” she said

By Gift Chiponde

Lilongwe, January 3, Mana: Minister of Information and Digitalization, Moses Kunkuyu, has stated that President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera's administration is committed to ensure that National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) fertilizer loan programme is reaching the intended beneficiaries across the country.

Kunkuyu made these remarks during the launch of the NEEF loan fertilizer distribution at Lobi Trading Centre in the area of Senior Chief Kachere in Dedza District.

He emphasized that President Chakwera will ensure that farmers receive what they are promised so they can fully benefit from the initiative.

The minister noted that the programme will stimulate growth in the agriculture sector, which is likely to improve the country’s foreign exchange reserves when agricultural commodities are sold on the international market.

"You are the ones feeding the country, and you need to be fully empowered. We want to see you driving cars buying from the profits that you accumulate from this initiative," Kunkuyu said.

He commended local chiefs for encouraging their communities to avoid reliance on free handouts and to embrace hard work, which is essential for enhancing agricultural growth in the area.

NEEF Board Chairperson Jefta Mtemwa indicated that the programme was launched in 2024 with an initial budget of K25 billion, benefiting 11,500 farmers.

He said government has allocated K150 billion, targeting 400,000 farmers in 2025.

Mtemwa said this aligns with the President's vision to revitalize and transform agriculture, aiming to make Malawi a food-secure nation.

Mtemwa assured the beneficiaries that NEEF is working diligently to assist all applicants for loans, especially as the country is currently experiencing good rainfall.

Member of Parliament for Dedza South West Constituency, Clement Mlombwa, described the development as a testament to the government’s promises and commitment to promote self-reliance among the citizens.

Mlombwa expressed optimism that the programme would help to eradicate hunger in Dedza, as most farmers depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.

He highlighted the importance of Lobi as a key agricultural production area and stressed the need for people in the district to benefit from the NEEF programme.

Additionally, Member of Parliament for Dedza Dzalanyama, Philipo Chinkhondo, praised NEEF for its initiative, stating that it would revitalize agriculture in his constituency.

He emphasized that the programme is not politically affiliated and that NEEF is distributing fertilizer regardless of political affiliations, unlike previous governments.

Chinkhondo urged communities benefiting from the initiative not to sell the fertilizer and encouraged chiefs and councilors to actively participate in implementing the programme to help combat hunger challenges.

In his remarks, Group Village Headman Lobi expressed gratitude for the initiative, stating it will significantly benefit farmers in the area.

He urged farmers to resist the temptation of engaging with vendors to maximize their production.

Nicolas Pemba, a beneficiary representing Uli Kuti Club, also commended the government for the positive progress of the programme.

He urged fellow beneficiaries to repay their loans on time to sustain the initiative and continue benefiting others in the future.

Pemba stressed the importance of using the fertilizer as intended to secure food for all.

By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, January 1, Mana: Member of Parliament (MP) for Kasungu North, Mike Bango, says beneficiaries of the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) Farm Input Loan Programme could make more profits if they sell their produce at Agriculture Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc).

Bango believes that farmers will get good prices at Admarc and prevent wasting away their produce at low prices offered by vendors and therefore, asked government to consider supporting the state grain buyer so that it starts buying produce early enough.

He said this on Tuesday when Minister of Information and Digitalization, Moses Kunkuyu, launched the disbursement of fertilizer under the 2024/25 NEEF Farm Input Loan Programme at Kaluluma in Kasungu District.

“While I appreciate the role that vendors play in the economy, they offer low prices to farmers. This is why I plead with government to prepare Admarc so that it should be the entity buying produce from these beneficiaries.

“If this happens, we are assured of our farmers making a good profit to service the loans with ease, while at the same time the government will have enough stock of maize which can be properly sold to better markets outside the country and get forex,” Bango said.

The Malawi Congress Party legislature asked chiefs to be vigilant and ensure that people should not sell the inputs accessed under the programme.

“This is a good initiative that will help us here in the rural areas to realize the vision that we must prosper together hence we must use the inputs for the intended purpose,” he said.

In his remarks, Kunkuyu said the programme is part of the government’s strategies to help in the generation of forex and also make the country food sufficient.

“It is in the history of this country that we used to produce enough and feed other countries as well. The reason is that people had access to farm inputs.

“President Lazarus Chakwera says we should go back to that time, give people inputs and harvest more produce. Our farms are the same, we can do it,” he said.

He said government has put in place various structural mechanisms to revitalize the agriculture sector so that there is food security as well as surplus produce for export.

One of the beneficiaries Daniel Lubanga and Senior Chief Kaluluma lauded government for the initiative and called for its sustainability, describing the programme as being both productive and self-sustaining.

Government plans to spend K150 billion for the programme targeting 400 000 farmers across the country after registering successes in the last year’s K27 billion investment which benefitted 11 500 farming entities.

According to NEEF Boar Chairperson Jephta Mtema, the fund has so far disbursed over K160 billion in other types of loans since 2021, with a national loan repayment average of 85 percent.

By Charlie Ligomeka

Machinga, December 31, Mana: In an effort to combat hunger and boost agricultural productivity in Machinga, the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) Limited has distributed 514 bags of fertilizer worth MK54 million as a loan to 17 farmer groups and 19 individual farmers.

According to Alinanuswe Manda, NEEF supervisor for the Ntaja Branch, the initiative is particularly significant, given the region's struggle with poor soil fertility due to heavy rains and El Nino, which have washed away essential nutrients from the soil.

"Crop nutrition was a significant barrier earlier, but with this initiative, we're confident that farmers will have bumper harvest. This, in turn, will have a positive impact on food security, not only for the farmers' households but also for the broader community," Manda said.

An individual beneficiary, Janet Mambo from Kondoni Village in Traditional Authority (TA) Nsanama, who received 20 bags of Urea fertilizer and 20 bags of NPK, said the fertilizer loan program is a game-changer for them as farmers.

"This fertilizer will boost our harvests and ensure food security for my household," she said.

She also emphasized the importance of crop insurance, given the unpredictable nature of farming success.

"As a farmer, I know how devastating it can be to lose your crops due to unforeseen circumstances. The crop insurance offered by NEEF provides us with a sense of security and reassurance that we'll be protected in case of any adverse events," said Mambo.

Maick Saidi, chairperson of the Mjigo Suwedi Youth group, a farmer group from TA Nyambi, also hailed the initiative as his group has received 15 bags of Urea and 15 bags of NPK.

"This is a higher opportunity, and we have to utilize it by working hard, taking care of our farms and using best farming methods to make higher yields," he said.

Another beneficiary, Loveness Lodrick from TA Ntumbwinda, who received her share of fertilizer from a group of five people, echoed Mambo's sentiments, thanking NEEF for the loan program.

"We're thrilled to receive this fertilizer, which we couldn't have afforded otherwise. We will make sure to utilize this opportunity to produce a greater yield, which will help us pay back the loan and ensure food security for our households. We're confident that this initiative will have a positive impact on our lives and the lives of our families,” Lodrick said.

In addition to the fertilizer loan program, NEEF is also offering crop insurance to farmers through their partners Cooperatives Insurance Company (CIC) which provides farmers with a vital safety net against unpredictable weather conditions, such as droughts and cyclones.