Chakwera inspects fertiliser warehouses, says Affordable Inputs Programme on track
President Lazarus Chakwera has assured Malawians that the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) was on track for the 2020 to 2021 farming season.
The President made the remarks when he visited fertilizers warehouses for Malawi Fertilizer Company, Farmers World and Smallholder (Farmers Fertilizer Revolving Fund (SFFR) at Kanengo in Lilongwe ahead of the programme rollout.
He said although fertilizers in stock were not 100 percent ready, but was optimistic that it would soon be.
“I am satisfied that we have sufficient stock to get started as the other stocks are on the way. We should be able to rollout as early as next week,” Chakwera said.
Minister of Agriculture, Robin Lowe who accompanied the President said that the country has 160,000 tonnes of fertilizers representing 37 percent of the required stock.
He assured Malawians that the programme would be launched within the week or next.
SFFR Chief Executive Officer, Andy Kalinde whose organization is contributing 68,600 tonnes of fertilizers to the 2020 to 2021 farming season said his organization was on course to meet the demand.
“In this warehouse as we are and other stocks combined, we are currently running at 19,000 tones. But there is a lot of fertilizer coming in from Nacala Port.
“A Vessel has already docked which is carrying 38,500 tonnes and at Beira Port there is another vessel that is offloading and the stock is being discharged at Chilimba Depot in Blantyre and Luwinga in Mzuzu,” he said.
AIP replaced then Farm Inputs Subsidy Programme of the previous administration to align with the aspirations of the new Tonse Alliance administration.
Vice President Saulos Chilima and Minister of Information, Gospel Kazako also accompanied the President among other high profile persons.
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Zikuwavuta akuluwa alamulira 5 years basi. Kulakira kwachuluka kwambiri. Ifetu tikufuna feteleza pano bwenzi lale ali mmanyumba mwatu.
inspecting fertiliser warehouses is not the way to go. With the few bags already in the country, why can’t he spend his time planning as to how more of the same product will be made available by manning offices? Actually, those useless inspections can be ably made by procurement personnel not a president, his vice and a quarter of the cabinet. Mwasowa ntchito eti? Is it not you loud mouths who went to town a few months ago blaming DPP for doing exactly what you idiots are doing?
Done right, this is a crucial farm in-put-this first one the president has to see himself. I know to you this is not import
This is October and you are saying you have only 37% stock? Where were you all this time? And Chakwera suspended the awarding of contracts until further notice, how do you think the fertilizer procurement and transportation shall be done? Kuyendetsa boma tu sikufunika nkhwidzi. No wonder you have nothing to show for 100 days in office. Ntchito yaboma sitigwira ndi pakamwa ngati yaubusa.
so if it is October what is the problem, you are not the one who brings rains
The Meteorological experts have already predicted that it might rain for planting within October. Going by history, planting rains have always come in October. So if availability of fertilizer is just at 37%, expect looming famine in 2021 because by the time they deliver fertilizer in mid November or early December, it will be late by then.
Iwe nde gwape basi. Iwe ndiye you are in control of the rains? What if the rains came early? Go and fart in your room if you don’t have anything sensible to say.
I hope next time, he will inspect progress for construction of a fertilizer plant
Amalawi ansanje ngati Inu zachisonii.Ask that question to the DPP waistiful govt where were they on June 23 or since 2019.Osaitanitsa fertilizer they were killers of farmers killers of economy.Come 2021 this nation will start changing.