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.

By Wanagwa Tembo

Kasungu, December 30, Mana: Agriculture Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) on Monday donated rice to Kasungu District Hospital to supplement the supplies that are used to feed patients. 

The health facility feeds about 300 patients per day and requires at least 170 kilogrammes of flour a day to provide three meals.

Making the donation amounting to 100 kilogrammes, Admarc's Division Manager for Kasungu, Carol Khunga said health facilities face a lot of challenges which can be mitigated if institutions come in to assist.

"This donation is part of our corporate social responsibility and we thought it wise to come to Kasungu and celebrate the end of the year festivities with the patients.

"The donations are being done in all our 11 divisions where at the end of everything, we are expected to give out 2,200 kilogrammes worth MK5.5 million," Khunga said.

Matron for Kasungu District Hospital, Doris Mwafulirwa Wilikani lauded Admarc for the donation describing it as a huge contribution towards efforts to feeding patients according to standards.

"We have a lot of challenges. We need food for patients; we need mobility equipment like trolleys and wheel chairs and many other needs.

"We would welcome all kind of assistance to the facility. Actually we would be happy to advice on the items that are mostly needed for well-wishers to help," Wilikani said.

Kasungu District Hospital serves a population of about a million people.

By Brian Wasili

Mwanza, December 30, Mana: Inkosi Kanduku Maseko of Mwanza has commended small-scale business group members for donating assorted food and non-food items worth K250, 000 and some cash to a family with health challenges in the district.

The remarks were made when the group donated a 50 kilogramme bag of maize flour, a bail of soya pieces and sugar, salt, a carton of laundry and bathing soap, among others, at the beneficiary’s home at Njazo Village in the area of Inkosi Kanduku Maseko  on Sunday.

“We need more of such people with love who can provide support to the vulnerable considering the cost of living is now very expensive. I urge other well-wishers in the district to emulate what the group has done,” said Kanduku.

The donation was made in response to a tip posted on the members' social media group by a well-wisher, which described the hardships faced by Triphonia Chabwera, a 58-year-old widow who has been ill for years, resulting in blindness.

Her daughter, who previously cared for her, is now incapacitated due to a stroke in January 2023, leaving her paralyzed that leaves the mother and her three grandchildren facing significant challenges.

Speaking after receiving the donation, Chabwera commended the support received saying that it will help her family to sustain life for some time.

“I did not expect that I would receive these items today. I will be able to eat food today and this will be my Christmas celebration,” said Chabwera.

She added that apart from food and beddings, her house was also in poor state, as it cannot withstand the rainy season and therefore asked for support for a better and safe accommodation. 

Member of the group, Sellina Magombo, said members donated the items not that they have a lot of extra money to spend but they wanted to make the beneficiary feel loved.

“We just wanted to demonstrate that the little we have can be shared with those whose situations are worse than ours and do not have any means to meet their basic needs due to various reasons,” said Magombo.

By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, December 29, Mana: Member of Parliament for Kasungu South East Constituency, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, says the tendency of subleasing land designated for crop cultivation has largely contributed to food insecurity amongst households in Kasungu District.

Chiponda says frustrations by farmers over poor commodity prices during the previous government forced communities to sell their gardens as agriculture became unprofitable.

She said this Saturday when she led a relief maize distribution exercise at Chinkhoma, in the area of Senior Chief Njombwa in the district.

“I must point out that one factor that has largely contributed to food insecurity here in Kasungu is that people do not want to cultivate crops and opt to sublease their land to others.

“This is because, during the previous government, farming was not profitable as prices for agricultural produce were low despite that people were willing and working hard to produce; so the option for them has been subleasing their land,” Chiponda said.

She challenged the relief maize beneficiary households to stop selling land and get down to serious farming saying the Malawi Congress Party-led government has passion to revitalize agriculture as evidenced by “good prices being offered for any crop on the market”.

“We are thankful to President Lazarus Chakwera that there is a food distribution exercise taking place across the country including Kasungu to ease the hunger that is there.

“But we want to encourage these beneficiaries and everyone else that under this government, every crop attracts good prices. If you cultivate maize, soybean, tobacco and everything, you are assured of selling at good prices so we must stop subleasing our land,” said Chiponda, who is also Minister of Health.  

She also called for fairness in the distribution of relief food, asking chiefs to refrain from favouritism when choosing beneficiaries.

Group Village Head Chambwe lauded Chiponda for the donation describing it as a timely gift that will ease food pressures amongst the receiving households.

He said as chefs, they will ensure that only deserving families are enlisted as beneficiaries so that the food response serves its intended purpose.

Government, through the Department of Disaster Management Affairs, is distributing maize across the country targeting families that were affected by the El Nino weather phenomenon, which affected harvest last season.

In Kasungu, over 50, 000 households have been earmarked to receive relief maize at least four times to take them through to the next harvest.

By Solister Mogha

Zomba, December 29, Mana: Zomba District Commissioner, Reinghard Chavula, has advised beneficiaries of Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) in the district to use money meaningfully particularly by buying food in the lean season with K3.2 billion allocated to support them through lean season cash support.

Chavula made an appeal Saturday during the launch of lean season response of cash to SCTP beneficiaries.

She said as part of cushioning people from hunger government decided to provide K140, 000 cash to each beneficiary instead of maize as a way of improving their livelihood in the lean season.

“All Social Cash Transfer Programme beneficiaries are part of the lean season support for   two months; they will get K140, 000, thus K70, 000 for each month to buy food.

“On top of this lean season support, households will also receive their regular transfers which are a huge contribution from government to the people,” Chavula added.

The District Commissioner therefore advised the beneficiaries never to be carried away   by the huge sums of money but rather prioritizing on important basic household needs purpose.

One of the recipients of the cash, Thom Mapemba, of Traditional Authority Chikowi hailed government for the timely support of the cash.

He said the money received will enable him buy food and maize seeds to be planted in his fields.

“This is something that I never expected. The support has come at the right time when I needed it most and I salute government for the timely response,” Mapemba said.

According to Zomba District Council, a total of K3.2 billion has been allocated to benefit almost 19,730 SCTP beneficiary households through the lean season cash support.