‘Start supplying Urea fertiliser’
Farmers in Senior Chief Katumbi in Rumphi District have asked the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) duty-bearers to supply them with Urea fertiliser.
Speaking on behalf of the farmers, Senior Chief Katumbi said their maize crops need top-dressing fertiliser.
He also said farmers are still struggling to redeem NPK fertiliser at Katowo and Zolokele selling points.
“It is surprising that authorities are still supplying us with NPK fertiliser when we are supposed to receive Urea fertiliser. If the situation remains the same, farmers will not harvest anything this year,” said Katumbi.
But Rumphi district director of agriculture, environment and natural resources Malumbo Msiska said Senior Chief Katumbi was the first to be considered because the area has a Smallholder Farmers Fertiliser Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) depot.
He said: “Hewe was the first area to get the first consignment [of NPK] and the only challenge now is its geographical location that makes it difficult to transport more commodities.
“However, we have introduced mobile markets and have also involved stakeholders such as the Malawi Defence Force and members of Parliament who are working tirelessly to provide transport to ensure that every area receives the commodity.”
According to Msiska, the district has 36 000 AIP beneficiaries of whom 4 200 are under the goat-pass on initiative.
