Ministry kicks off AIP preparations
Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale says government has embarked on early preparation for this year’s Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) to overcome delays that might arise due to foreign exchange scarcity or other challenges.
In the proposed 2024/25 National Budget, government has allocated K161 billion towards the AIP, an increase from last year’s K109 billion that was targeted at 1.5 million beneficiaries.
On efforts the ministry has made to ensure a timely AIP this year after challenges in the 2023/24 growing season, Kawale said procurement processes have already started and that they plan to finish earlier to avoid setbacks.
He said the ministry is also in constant interaction with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs to ensure availability of forex for fertiliser procurement.
Said Kawale: “Remember, we are now doing crop production all-year round using irrigation. That is why we are making sure forex for fertiliser is available.
“We have been in contact almost every day. Fertiliser is an important commodity, and we will make sure that funding for it is there.”
However, the minister did not disclose the number of targeted beneficiaries for this year’s AIP.
Kawale stressed that the ministry will work within the amount that will be approved and also take into account the AIP reforms that the government has started implementing.
In a separate interview, Smallholder Farmers Fertiliser Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) chief executive officer Richard Chikunkhuzeni said the agency has the capacity to distribute AIP fertilisers within 45 days if resources are made available on time.
He said the main challenge with AIP has been financing and availability of forex.
Said Chikunkhuzeni: “When the programme is being launched, the fertiliser stocks are not adequate, which heavily affects SFFRFM’s capacity to deliver.
“I can assure you that the fund can distribute the fertiliser in 45 days. That is very possible. It doesn’t happen this way because fertiliser procurement is very slow and staggered due to financing and forex shortage issues.”
The Ministry of Agriculture asked the Treasury for K200 billion to implement the 2024/25 AIP, but government has allocated K161 billion.
On his part, Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture chairperson Sameer Suleman said government should buy fertiliser directly from manufacturers to avoid complications and cut costs.
“SFFRFM knows the manufacturers. We should avoid middlemen or vendors,” he said.
Implementation of the 2023 AIP was marred by procurement challenges which were worsened by the scarcity of foreign exchange. These factors delayed availability of fertiliser for beneficiary smallholder farmers.
