Malawi: The availability of the Affordable Inputs Program (AIP) has made the people of the Nkhata Bay area excited. The community has extended their gratitude to the government of Malawi for their actions and deliverance.
The provision of the AIP is a step towards smallholder farmers to access essential farming inputs paving the way for increased crop yield and income.
Luti Kasambala who is a resident of the Chilerawana village in the area of Senior Chief MKumbira said was happy to have secured her bags of fertilizer. Now that the fertilizer is available, the farmer can focus on other things.
“I am very grateful to the government that this year I have benefited from this programme which was not the case last year. Today I have accessed the bags of fertilizer and now will just be waiting for the rain while finalising preparing my field,” she said.
According to Kasambala, there is hope that in the 2024/2025 farming season produce from her farm will be increased.
Chairperson for Mkumbira Area Development Committee, Mavuto Kaunda expressed optimism that by the end of December this year, beneficiaries at Nkhata Bay Central Constituency will have redeemed their fertilisers.
“Currently, 635 bags of NPK and 681 bags of NPK have been redeemed in this constituency which has an allocation of 1,428 households to benefit translating to about 48 percent of fertilizer sold within three weeks.
“If the network will be stable and have continued supply of fertilizer, by mid-December everyone will have redeemed their bags of AIP which is encouraging,” he said.
Councillor for Usisya ward and Vice Chairperson for Nkhata Bay District Council Brown Chizeze, commended government. He was grateful that the Usisya region was trageted as it is a very hard to reach area. 200 bags of fertilizer have already been redeemed by the residents.
He further asked for special consideration to increase the load and frequency so that people can access their agriculture inputs before the roads are impassable considering the approaching rainy season.
Director of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Raphael Mkisi said apart from network challenges selling of AIP commodities is progressing well in the district.
“On average we have two selling points at each of the six constituencies and at least each selling point has fertilizer. The need for the beneficiary of the program to be physically present with the National Identity card has helped to tighten security and also taken vendors out of the system resulting in sanity in selling points,” he said.
He has advised farmers not to sale the fertilizer to effectively achieve the program’s goal of making Malawi a food secured nation.
In 2024/2025 AIP is expected to benefit 12,540 famers in Nkhata Bay.