371 get money for fertiliser

As government was expected to roll out distribution of coupons to 1.5 million beneficiaries in Malawi on Tuesday, the Aged Project Trust on Saturday gave 371 elderly people money to buy fertiliser.

Each of the elderly from 10 villages in Blantyre rural got K1 000, enough for them to buy two bags (one basal, another top dressing) of subsidised fertiliser.

The organisation’s executive director Wilson Mwafulirwa said they target the elderly because they are neglected.

“Some of them are caring for orphans and they have no other source of income. This is the fourth year we are doing this. After giving them the money, we come back and monitor the receipts to ensure they used the money for the intended purpose,” said Mwafulirwa.

He said volunteers also go into the fields to ensure that peasant farmers are taking care of their crop.

One of the beneficiaries, 68 year-old Olivetti Singano from Makanjira Village, said she is looking forward to the onset of planting rains and the distribution of  coupons.

“I have already prepared the land. Through this, I have increased my yield from three bags to 12 bags every year. That is enough to help me and the six orphans I take care of,” said Singano.