Stakeholders to the Malawi Economic Justice Network (Mejn) 2013/2014 pre-budget consultation meeting in Zomba have resolved to lobby authorities to review policies governing the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and Farm Input Subsidy Programme (Fisp).
The meeting made the recommendations after it noted a lot of irregularities in the implementation of the two programmes in the district.
Mejn regional coordinator for the South Mike Melvin Banda in an interview on Thursday said the stakeholders observed that government resources in the Fisp programme targeted the same people, arguing this clearly shows the system is inefficient.
“There are certain areas in the Fisp policy guidelines that need to be corrected. Government has, for example, allocated a lot of money in the programme, but it is not yielding the desired fruits because many people are failing to buy fertiliser despite having coupons.
“The meeting, therefore, resolved to lobby government to intensify irrigation farming through the Green Belt Initiative and empower the farmers with recommended farm implements so that they can harvest twice or thrice a year,” said Banda.
The meeting also said CDF policy that members of Parliament should use the fund in consultation with the area development committees (ADCs) is non-starter, arguing most MPs do not consult their constituents.
“The meeting recommended a review of the CDF so that district councils should also be involved in the monitoring process because in the end, it is a district commissioner who answers to the Parliamentary Committee,” he said.
