MPs demand answers on AIP

Members of Parliament (MPs) from both sides of the House yesterday demanded a report on the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) from Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale after decrying poor coverage in most consituencies.

The demands come at a time the Ministry of Agriculture has only a day left to the 40-day ultimatum President Lazarus Chakwera gave for AIP implementation when he launched the programme in Kasungu on October 20.

Making his contribution, Rumphi Central MP McDowel Chidumba Mkandawire said the minister had failed to deliver on his own commitment that the fertiliser would first be distributed in hard to reach areas.

He said beneficiaries in remote areas of his constituency are yet to get fertiliser despite the government’s assurance to start with such areas.

Dedza Central East MP Joshua Malango (Malawi Congress Party-MCP) said no bag of fertiliser has reached hard-to-reach areas in his constituency.

Others who expressed AIP distribution challenges included Mzuzu City MP Bennex Mwamulima (MCP) and Mangochi Central MP Victoria Kingston (Democratic Progressive Party).

First Deputy Speaker Madalitso Kazombo also joined the cries of the MPs, saying only NPK is being distributed in areas that government has managed to reach with AIP.

Machinga East MP Esther Jolobala (United Democratic Front) called on Minister of Agriculture to make a statement on the progress of the AIP, and questioned why the minister has not been updating the House on such an important issue.

In response, Kawale conceded that the ministry is yet to reach some hard to reach areas but said most of such areas have been supplied with fertiliser.

He said: “We have distributed to the majority of the hard to reach areas. We have started with very far and then we are finishing with places that are closer.”

However, Kawale said government is set to reach areas that have not been reached yet, adding that yesterday they started the distribution of over 40 000 metric tonnes (MT) of fertiliser and will also release another 15 000MT on Friday.

Despite the explanation, a number of MPs still demanded answers to AIP challenges, especially the unavailability of fertiliser in selling points.