Weak performance forces govt to add Fisp contractors
Limited capacity of some transporters contracted to deliver fertiliser under the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (Fisp) has prompted government to add more bidders who were initially dropped in the awarding process.
The move aims to beef up capacity in ferrying the fertiliser across the country, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
Nation on Sunday has established that some companies that were given contracts to transport the fertiliser have had problems to deliver on their contracts, especially in the Central Region.
Public relations officer for the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security Sarah Tione confirmed the addition of the new contractors, saying government wants to ensure the fertiliser is delivered on time in all districts.
“As one way of ensuring that this year’s Fisp programme runs smoothly, the ministry is continuously monitoring the programme, including the delivery of fertiliser to retail markets by transporters, so that it runs according to the roadmap.
“Thus, to ensure that things continue on course, the ministry has added more transporters to improve the movement of fertiliser to retail markets since others are slow in moving the fertiliser,” said Tione.
She said the ministry has reduced quantities allocated to the affected transporters to avoid delivery failure in some targeted retail markets.
“Since transport contracts had quantities attached, those that are slow in moving fertiliser, their quantities are transferred or shared to other transporters after following all the procurement and contract conditions.
“This situation is happening also in the Southern Region since in the North, the amount remaining to be delivered is low which will be covered by the existing transporters,” said Tione.
She could not mention names of the new companies, saying she did not have a complete list of the new transporters.
Nation on Sunday has learnt that the districts that are behind schedule on distribution of the crucial farm input include Lilongwe and Ntchisi.
“Although Lilongwe and Ntchisi are the districts that are lagging behind in distribution, you should know that this is a measure to improve transportation in all districts in the Central and Southern regions,” said Tione.
In previous Fisp seasons, many farmers targeted to benefit from the subsidised input programme ended up failing to buy the fertiliser despite receiving the coupons due to non-availability of the fertiliser in the targeted markets.
