NGO faults Malawi gov’t on implementation of subsidy program

A strong advice has gone out to Malawi government authorities to deploy more people to monitor the implementation of subsidy program to curb corruption, favoritism and bias that have soiled the implementation of the program since its inception.  

Executive Director of the local NGO Future Planning for the Child, Douglas Ng’oma gave the advice during Kalondolondo meeting in Malawi’ northern district of Karonga, where he accused Ministry of Agriculture of failing its work in monitoring the program.

“Our research findings show that 80% of people said agriculture extension workers in the communities and other responsible people are not doing their job of monitoring the program properly saying the program is marred by corruption in both selection of the beneficiaries because some names have been missing from the last list from ministry of agriculture.”

Ng’oma also said the communities also complained that some of targeted beneficiaries are until now having their last year coups because they were being sent back as they were told that fertilizer is over a development they say is an insult.

Karonga Agricultural Division Development Programme Manager Daniel Yona said the success of the subsidy program does not only rely on the ministry of agriculture but it is the responsibility of every one to make it a success.

“We thank you very much for your research because you have informed us of our shortfall but know that subsidy program is not only for us for it to achieve its goal, we need to work together all stakeholders in the district and farmers themselves should take the  responsibility of reporting to police of any wrong doing,” said Yona.

Yona said it is really very unfortunate that some of beneficiaries are still keeping last year’s coupons in their homes.

He then pleaded to stakeholders and non-governmental organizations to take ownership of the program saying they should not only to point out the wrong doings only at the end of the program but even  when the program is being implemented so that they should deal with the problem.

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