Malawi govt slashes FISP beneficiaries by 600,000 seen as exit strategy
Government has slashed the beneficiaries of Farm Input Subsidy Program (FISP) program by 600000, a move seen as an exit strategy for the now K43 billion budget.
Finance ministry spokesperson Nations Msowoya confirmed that this year’s beneficiaries would be at 900 000 down from 1500 last year.
“Our research has shown that 900000 people will need support through FISP,” said Msowoya.
The drastic reduction of FISP comes at a time when donors and other civil society leaders have been putting pressure on government to find exit strategies for the subsidies usually dogged with maladministration and corruption.
The government last year spent a whopping K60 billion on the program but very few ordinary Malawians as the fertilizer and seeds came late in most areas as suppliers and transporters boycotted the program due to unpaid money by the government.
Msowoya hoped this year’s program would be succesful.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :