Chiefs in Mangochi District have commended Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency (Csat) community scorecard survey on the implementation of the 2025/26 Farm Inputs Subsidy Programme (Fisp).
The chiefs expressed the sentiments on Wednesday when Csat presented the findings of the survey conducted in traditional authorities (T/As) Lulanga, Hamisi Makanjira, Chilipa, Nankumba, Chiunda and Chowe.
Some of the highlighted challenges include delays in the distribution of farm inputs such as maize seed and fertiliser, failure to redeem the full consignment of fertilisers, long distances to markets operated by the Smallholder Farmers Fertiliser Revolving Fund of Malawi and the disappearance of names from beneficiary lists.
Group village head Hassan of T/A Nankumba said it was the first time for communities to experience an initiative that allowed them to freely express their views and directly engage duty-bearers on challenges surrounding the implementation of Fisp.
“We have discussed various challenges and proposed action points to improve the programme in the next farming season,” he said.
Senior Chief Lulanga also commended Csat for conducting the survey, saying the findings will help duty-bearers to develop solutions to improve Fisp and ensure farmers achieve bumper yields.
Mangochi district director of agriculture, environment and natural resources Nditani Maluwa said the programme had largely performed well despite some challenges highlighted in the findings.
“My office will address the gaps to ensure the programme meets people’s expectations,” he said.
Csat field officer Jacob Phiri said the organisation has achieved its objective of bringing communities and duty-bearers together to discuss issues that promote the right to food at the grassroots level.
“Our aim is to ensure that communities and duty-bearers discuss issues that promote food security in line with the project we are implementing in the district,” he said.
Csat organised the meeting under the Right to Food Programme with financial support from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through Welthungerhilfe.
