Farmers in Dedza District have expressed concern over delays in the distribution of certified seed and fertiliser under the Farm Inputs Subsidy Programme (Fisp), warning that they risk missing the first rains and compromising the planting season.
The concerns come despite government’s earlier assurance that it had prioritised hard-to-reach areas and districts that receive early rains in this year’s rollout to enable farmers to plant in good time.
A visit to Lobi Extension Planning Area (EPA), as part of a Ministry of Agriculture monitoring exercise of the 2026/27 Fisp redemption process, established that beneficiaries were mainly accessing NPK fertiliser, with government yet to distribute certified seed.
Of the three designated selling points in the EPA, only two were operational, as the third was yet to receive fertiliser.
Njonja Farmers Organisation chairperson Stanley Jinja said the delays could force farmers to resort to recycled seed if certified seed.
“We usually receive rains early in this area, so we need certified seed in good time. If government delays distribution, farmers may end up using recycled seed, which could affect yields,” he said.
Jinja, however, commended the programme’s implementation systems, saying they had helped eliminate vendors and other malpractices that characterised previous subsidy programmes.
An 84-year-old member of Nkhatawayatha Farmers Organisation, Tiliya Anuwelo, also welcomed the programme, particularly government’s inclusion of the elderly.
She said she had already accessed NPK fertiliser and prepared Mbeya organic fertiliser, but urged government to ensure all beneficiaries received their inputs in good time.
Lobi agriculture extension development officer Kelita Chagwa said the programme had started well, although one of the three designated markets was yet to open.
She said the two operational markets had already redeemed all their allocated NPK fertilisers, with some beneficiaries yet to collect inputs that were in stock.
However, only 12 of the 30 farmers’ organisations in the EPA had redeemed NPK fertiliser, while just two had accessed Urea.
Chagwa said that of the 7 036 registered beneficiaries in the EPA, only 3 028 had redeemed fertiliser, with most accessing NPK.
She said continued distribution was necessary to enable all beneficiaries to access the inputs and prepare Mbeya fertiliser before the planting season gathers pace.
The Nation edition of November 2 2026 quoted Agriculture Minister Roza Mbilizi as having said government had prioritised hard-to-reach areas and districts that receive early rains in the Fisp rollout.
She cited Chitipa, Mwanza and Neno districts, as well as Makanjira in Mangochi and the Lower Shire, among the areas where distribution had started ahead of the wider national rollout.
Government is targeting 610 931 direct beneficiaries under this year’s Fisp, with each expected to contribute K50 000 towards a package comprising two 50-kilogramme bags of subsidised fertiliser and a five-kilogramme packet of certified maize seed.
