Government has ordered local councils to recover fertiliser accessed by civil servants who illegally registered for the 2025/26 Farm Inputs Subsidy Programme (Fisp) and to institute disciplinary action against agriculture officers who facilitated the malpractice.
A memo from the Secretary for the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development dated December 19 2025, which The Nation has seen, cites Balaka District Council as one of the affected councils where 52 civil servants were irregularly registered, with 18 already having redeemed the subsidised inputs.
The ministry’s spokesperson Chimwemwe Njoloma yesterday confirmed the directive titled ‘Unauthorised Civil Servant Registration in the 2025-26 Farm Inputs Subsidy Programme’, saying it was sent to all councils nationwide.
The memo states that the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development reported “a serious breach of Fisp guidelines”, noting that the 34 civil servants who had not yet redeemed the inputs were removed from the beneficiaries’ register.
It further directs councils to ensure that those who already redeemed fertiliser immediately return it to Smallholder Farmers Fertiliser Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) depots for redistribution to eligible beneficiaries.
“Furthermore, we request you to initiate appropriate disciplinary proceedings against all agriculture field officers implicated in this matter and submit a report on your findings,” reads the memo in part.
Njoloma said government is working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture to protect the integrity of Fisp.
“This is a very serious issue. All civil servants who accessed the inputs unlawfully must return them and necessary action will be taken against those who fail to comply,” he said.
But Njoloma referred questions on possible refunds and the total number of civil servants who have redeemed inputs to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Ministry of Agriculture Principal Secretary Erica Maganga yesterday said Fisp coordinator Justin Kagona was better-placed to comment, but Kagona was unreachable by press time.
Ministry of Local Government’s directive follows a warning issued three weeks ago by Minister of Agriculture Roza Mbilizi, who, alongside Minister of Local Government Ben Phiri, exposed widespread malpractices in the programme, including chiefs and civil servants registering themselves as beneficiaries.
Mbilizi said about 3 800 civil servants had illegally enrolled in Fisp and warned them against redeeming inputs or risk facing the law.
“If you have not yet redeemed the fertiliser, do not do so. Those who have already redeemed will face the law,” she said.
Meanwhile, Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency (Csat) executive director Willy Kambwandira has urged government to go beyond recovery of fertiliser and impose firm administrative sanctions on culprits.
“Simply asking people to return fertiliser is not enough. There must be consequences to deter abuse and protect the programme,” he said.
Kambwandira also called for transparency in the recovery process, including public disclosure of beneficiaries and confirmation once inputs are returned.
He said politicians, alongside civil servants, also abuse the programme and urged government to strengthen community oversight mechanisms.
Mbilizi launched this year’s Fisp on November 12 2025 in Mchinji District.
This year, the initiative is targeting 1.1 million beneficiaries, each receiving two 50-kilogramme (kg) bags of fertiliser and a 5kg pack of seed.
Under the livestock component, selected farmers are receiving five goats, four female and one male, on a pass-on arrangement.
