Roza Mbilizi says Fisp is on track

By Pemphero Malimba:

Agriculture Minister Roza Mbilizi has said the government will soon scale up the distribution of inputs under the Farm Inputs Subsidy Programme (Fisp).

Mbilizi said this on the sidelines of a joint commemoration of World Food Day (WFD) and Africa Food and Nutrition Security Day (AFNSD) at Capital Hill in Lilongwe City on Friday.

She said following the launch of the programme in September this year, the ministry prioritised the distribution of inputs to hard-to-reach areas as well as places which experience rainfall early.

“You will find that districts such as Chitipa, Mangochi-Makanjira, in the Shire Valley [Chikwawa and Nsanje districts], in Mwanza and Neno—this programme started. In Chitipa, we are almost at 70 percent [implementation rate].

“So, we are targeting those areas and, later, roll out to all other districts. So, it’s going on well and I, as minister, am happy with the programme,” Mbilizi said.

She said Fisp was one of the crucial programmes the government intended to use to ensure food security in the country.

Mbilizi said the government was striving to also promote irrigation and agriculture commercialisation.

“We are encouraging all stakeholders in the country to join hands [with us] to make sure that Malawians have enough food and that the country is food secure. The same applies to the availability of safe water for all,” Mbilizi said.

She said the commemoration was an opportunity to reflect on progress made in ensuring the attainment of food and nutrition security.

“It [the day] also gives us an opportunity to reflect on the availability of safe water to our people. It is a very important day,” Mbilizi said.

YESUF—Water is critical

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Representative in Malawi, Ali Said Yesuf, connected Malawi’s yearly hunger situations to the effects of climate change.

Yesuf said Malawi should allocate enough funding towards innovations that have the potential to contribute to food security.

“Water is very critical. How can we use the water efficiently? How can we make irrigation systems cover more [land] and smart? How can we advise and support communities to produce crops or livestock that are resistant and communicate to environmental issues? And there are many technological solutions that are available,” he said.

He said although there were efforts to transform the agriculture sector, several challenges, including resource mobilisation, were hindering progress.

“Resourcing is a challenge. We need to work more with the private sector; create an enabling environment for the private sector to invest,” Yesuf said.

He said FAO was committed to supporting Malawi through the provision of technical assistance to the Ministry of Agriculture, among others.

WFD is commemorated on October 16 while AFNSD is observed on October 30.

This year’s Fisp is worth about K140 billion.

At least 1.2 million farming households are earmarked to benefit from the programme across the country.