Inspector General of Police Lot Dzonzi says the 14-point plan which the police have come up with to fight malpractices dogging the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (Fisp) will greatly help to strengthen the safety and security of the 2013/14 subsidy programme.
Some of the points in the plan include allocating a specific number of police officers at every satellite depot in Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu, conducting joint patrols with neighbourhood groups, employing undercover agents and increasing interface meetings with all stakeholders including the Judiciary.
Speaking during the opening of a review meeting on the 2012/13 Fisp in Lilongwe on Tuesday, Dzonzi said the police will ensure that the programme is more successful than ever.
“We have come up with a 14-point plan to reduce anomalies that are associated with Fisp. During the just-ended season, we made huge strides and registered tremendous success in areas of detection, arrests, investigations, interceptions and even prosecution of cases involving the programme,” said Dzonzi.
Principal Secretary II in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security Dorothy Banda said: “We have seen a reduction in cases of fake coupons, but last year some transporters were diverting fertiliser to undesignated places.”
About K60 billion (about $152m) has been allocated to this year’s Fisp.
