AIP information blackout irks MPs
The Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture has faulted government’s silence on the progress of preparations for this year’s Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP), saying time is running out and any further delays can compromise implementation.
In an interview yesterday, committee chairperson Sameer Suleman said members of Parliament (MPs) have been pushing for updates on AIP on behalf of their constituents who need to prepare for the growing season, but government is not forthcoming.
He called on Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale to be open and engage the committee and other stakeholders to resolve any challenges before it is too late.
Said Suleman: “We are blank on what is happening to AIP. We are all looking forward to the ministerial statement. Government needs to be providing information to Malawians when they need it.”
When similar calls were made in Parliament on September 3 2024, Kawale committed to present a ministerial statement on September 6 2024. However, he is yet to do so and the item does not appear on the Order Paper, an outline of business tackled in Parliament.
When asked about progress of the AIP and the ministerial statement, Kawale yesterday said: “I will make a statement in Parliament.”
In a separate interview, Leader of Opposition in Parliament George Chaponda said he expects the AIP issue to be handled today.
On his part, Rumphi West MP Yona Mkandawire (independent) lamented that the ministry is doing things secretly when the information is critical to farmers’ planning.
He said by now, the list of beneficiaries should have been out.
Parliament spokesperson Ian Mwenye yesterday asked for more time to consult on when the ministerial statement will be included on the Order Paper.
Meanwhile, agriculture policy expert Tamani Nkhono Mvula has weighed in on calls for government to update the country on the progress of the AIP.
He wondered why the ministry was not forthcoming with information.
In March this year, Parliament approved a K161 billion budget for AIP and government estimated that the programme will support 1 054 945 beneficiaries this year, down from 1.5 million beneficiaries targeted in last year’s programme.
