Exit Fisp, enters Aip: Minister Lowe says new fertiliser program for Malawi food security
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Lobin Lowe has announced termination of Farm Input Subsidy Program (FISP) and replaced it with another program the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) which will benefit 4.2 million farming households in the country.
Addressing the media in Lilongwe on Friday, Lowe said AIP aims to enable Malawi attain food security at household and national levels and reduce poverty.
“We have noted that only few people were benefitting from the previous program but the current programme is much better. We estimate that a farmer can harvest 32 bags of maize if well managed,” he said.
Each farming household will access two bags of fertilizer at K4, 495 each with a five kilogram certified seed at K2 000.
“Each family will receive 1 Urea 50 Kilogram bag, 1 NPK 50 Kilogram bag and one pack of seed,” Lowe said.
The minister said collectively, government will give out 213,955 Metric tonnes as well as 21,000 metric tonnes of Seeds.
“My ministry is now cleaning-up the database and making sure that correct National Identification numbers are entered against the right farming household heads.
“My appeal to all smallholder farmers with faulty IDs is that they should rectify the problem with Field Extension workers before commencement of the programme,” he said.
Lowe warned against abused the AIP, saying Lowe said the programme will involve a number of stakeholders such as Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Homeland Security, Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Local Government, E-Government, Anti Corruption Bureau, Malawi Bureau of Standards, Civil Society Organizations, Farmer Organizations, Local leaders, Inputs Suppliers and farmers themselves.
“All these stakeholders will have to be empowered in a way to enable them support the implementation of the programme. There are specific roles that each player will play for the success of the programme. The Ministry of Agriculture will coordinate the implementation,” said Lowe.
Lowe said: “My Ministry, with support from the National Registration Bureau and E-Government, has developed an electronic system that will be used to enable farmers to procure fertiliser and maize seed from approved suppliers.
“The farmer will just go to the supplier with the national identity card and the supplier will scan the identity card using a smartphone and the farmer will select the input he or she wants to purchase”.
Fisp was introduced in 2005/2006 agricultural season, following severe food shortages in 2004/05. It had initial successes but its impact in later years was questioned.
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During campaigns people were told that the Alliance is coming up with a new modern way of governing. Surprisingly, all they are doing is nothing new other than changing names of organisations. Was it not this other day when one minister cheated us that in order to fulfil the 1 million jobs, instead of people to register for jobs at the Labour Offices, they will be introducing Employment Centres where those looking for work will get employed? Now this, whereby a full minister is telling us that he is changing the fertiliser/seeds subsidies name from FISP to AIB, whose target… Read more »
Where is Mtambo and Trappez to protest àgainst this.Adya Chibansi.
Kkkkkkk pepatu Shonai ku Tonse Alliance kulibe zama banzi ngati ku team yako ija ya DPP Thievery Camp.
Izi sizazipani koma alimi amene analonjezedwa kuti kuyambira pa 24 June fetereza adzachipa.
Tonse is a bunch of liars. Is this what you call universal fertilizer subsidy? Why do you take Malawians for fools?
Shupiti
This is targeting subsidy.Universal has no boundaries its everybody! No restrictions.Abakha inu
Idiot.You mean you can have all this nonsense without a budget?Without a budget being passed?A trial government.
The idea behind the two programmes is to bring food security at household level.Changing of names wouldn’t have any effect as long as the functions are the same.
No no no this is not what we voted for. This is rubbish. In case you have forgotten, we voted for a universal price to every Malawian white or black farmer or engineer. Organise ADMARC quickly order fertiliser and stock the ADMARC markets and let anyone buy at will. That’s what we voted for. In case Mr Lowe you have forgotten go and review The VP campaign speeches as he carried a 50 kg bag around. Dont play us now because you want find us easy. Ask Munthalika. I am Malawi Congress party to the cole. You confirm by checking… Read more »
This is brilliant program. . We will support it fully. Even us dpp supporters will benefit from.
People need to understand the numbers. Not everyone is a farmer in Malawi. We have school going children 6.5 million. The elderly 2.3 million farmers 4.2 million . Employed 2.1 . Self employed 3.6 million.
Point of correction either you Minister or writer of this article. People will be buying at that prices not receiving as it will be free of charge. Another think you have to know that Malawians voted for universal subsidy not shit you are talking about here. Mr president my word of advice if you fail to give us universal subsidy just know that you have failed and their is no next term for you.