Chiefs in Nkhata Bay District have commended the timely delivery of coupons under the Farm Inputs Subsidy Programme (Fisp) for the 2026/27 farming season, saying this will give the council enough time to distribute them.
This follows the receipt of 9 100 coupons on Monday from the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development which are expected to benefit farmers in 141 farmer organisations across the district’s nine extension planning areas (EPAs).
Nkhata Bay Chiefs Council chairperson Senior Chief Mkumbira said in an interview on Tuesday that the early arrival of the coupons demonstrated proper planning and will give farmers ample time to redeem their inputs without disrupting other farming activities.
“I urge farmers to make good use of the fertiliser and not sell it to achieve food security in the district,” he said.
The district’s director of agriculture, environment and natural resources Yaz Nyirenda said the district was briefed on how to handle the coupons to ensure smooth implementation.
“We expect to complete distribution to EPAs by Thursday [today]. As a district, we have about 54 selling points, in addition to mobile markets. The good news is that fertiliser has also started arriving at Luwinga Depot in readiness for distribution to selling points,” he said.
Nkhata Bay district commissioner David Gondwe urged stakeholders involved in the process to follow the required procedures and guidelines to ensure that the programme benefits the targeted beneficiaries
