Britain commends Malawi for farm input subsidy reforms

Malawi Government has been commended by UK Department for International Development (DFID) for instituting reforms that would make the Farm Input Subsidy Program (Fisp) more efficient and effective.

Marshall, Head of DfID Malawi:Commends government
Marshall, Head of DfID Malawi:Commends government
Minister of Agriculture Chiyembekeza announced hike in prices of subsidised fertiliser
Minister of Agriculture Chiyembekeza announced hike in prices of subsidised fertiliser

The reforms include privatisation of procurement and distribution of fertiliser and seeds under Fisp.

Head of DfID in Malawi, Jen Marshall, speaking during the 2014/15 FISP Evaluation Dissemination Workshop in Lilongwe on Thursday, said government needs to do more on reforms including in the transparency and efficiency of procurement and in the timeliness of payments.

“These reforms should help create fiscal space for government to prioritise other important areas for Malawi’s agricultural development and wider inclusive growth.

“The reforms are a step in the right direction, and we look forward to further discussion on some of the technical efficiency issues that have been raised repeatedly by the evidence, such as productivity, who is benefiting and exiting from the scheme to reach the most deserving productive poor farmers, and how to encourage greater diversification away from maize.”

The DiFD boss appealed to stakeholders to carefully implement the 2015/16 Fisp for maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

Minister of Agriculture Allan Chiyembekeza announced last week that each farmer will have to contribute K3500 ($7) per bag of fertilizer, up from K500 in the 2015/16 growing season.

A 5kgs bag of maize seed will now be sold at K1000 ($2) from K150 in the previous years while legumes are no longer for free as farmers will have to pay K500. About 1.5 million farmers are expected to benefit from the program in the 2015/16 season.

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nick
nick
8 years ago

I was happy with this agricultural subsidy programme when it was small and partly in the hands of people like Aleke Banda (whom I trusted). Now it is shrouded in development-speak “fiscal space”; “wider inclusive growth”; “Malawi’s agricultural development” I fear that £millions of UK aid-money will be pouring into worthless NGOs and into foreign consultancies. Malawi CANNOT absorb large foreign aid without corruption.
Have you heard of Cashgate, Ms Marshall?

phodo
phodo
8 years ago

BRITONS NOW HAVE BECOME THE DONORs OF SERVICES ONLY TO MALAWI. HO HO MY OLD COLONY MASTERS!!!! mbuzi za anzungu basi. Amalawi musawatanthauzire ayi.Taonani China bwa. wE WERE COLONIZED BY STINGY COLONY MASTERS.

Patriot
Patriot
8 years ago

Rubbish.
Where are malawians gonna get K3500/bag of fertiliser?
Meaning K7000 for 2 bags.
Do that woman knows that malawians are already struggling to feed themsrlves?

Zagwa
Zagwa
8 years ago

FISP is uncalled for, unnecessary and an enemy of development that only benefits a few politicians and unscrupulous business people while encouraging laziness and corruption. Any forward thinking president would abandon it and concentrate on other viable initiatives like GBI or OVOP

chimwemwe
chimwemwe
8 years ago

DFID thanks for recommendation now its time to help Malawi with Aid or it will collapse

Nyamakunutu
Nyamakunutu
8 years ago

Atsamunda ndi choncho they have always not been happy with subsidy program even Bingo knew them well. I miss him sure for he would have not done this foolishness

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