Group wants police at AIP selling points
M’Mbelwa Advocacy Group chairperson Bodwin Ngulube has asked Malawi Police Service to deploy its officers in places where farm inputs under Affordable Input programme (AIP) are being sold in Mzimba.
He made the call on Monday in Mzimba during a meeting organised by Centre for Social Concern who are implementing Rights to Food Project in the district.
Said Ngulube: “Due to scarcity of fertiliser at selling points middlemen take advantage to dupe poor farmers who spend days without buying fertiliser.
“So, police will provide security at selling points to curb the malpractice.”
He also said some farmers have not yet bought fertiliser due to inadequate supply.
“Next farming season government should identify agro-dealers who have capacity to supply the commodity,” said Ngulube.
In response, Mzimba Police Station officer-in-charge Stain Chaima said police officers have been advised to work with community security structures put in place for monitoring the sale of farm inputs.
“If in certain areas they do not have community policing structures, they should immediately form some,” he said.