FISP suppliers refuse to release critical fertilizer
Some suppliers of farm inputs engaged by government are withholding NPk fertilizer in fear the cash strapped government would not be able to pay.
This may affect food production in some areas next as the fertilizer in question is applied as soon as the maize is just centimetres high.
Last year the government had a debt of K500 million to the suppliers which has just been cleared a few months ago after the suppliers threatened not to supply the farm inputs until the government paid off the balance.
Minister of Agriculture confirmed the incident and said the ministry of Finance has already made the payment and what is remaining is for the government to issue the payments to the suppliers.
“We are discussing with them to release the NPK fertilizer,” said Chiyembekeza playing down the issue.
The farm input programme has this year faced a lot of challenges from identification of recipients as some of the 1:8 million are civil servants leaving out thousands of the needy subsistence farmers to delays in the supply of the farm inputs to this issue of suppliers withholding the NPK fertilizer.
Chairman of parliamentary committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources Felix Jumbe said Malawi is doomed for catastrophic food shortages next year following the government’s poor handling of the farm input programme this year.
However Chiyembekeza and minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe are upbeat that despite the problems, the country is headed for bumper yield if weather continues to be favourable.
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The suppliers are dependent on the Government for their business.Governments take long to pay but they eventually pay and if you want to do business with government, you better project your cash flow accordingly and not holding it to ransom ;not releasing the goods should be the last thing. There are other suppliers out there who can supply inspite of all these challenges of payment delays. Iam also concerned that the working class are beneficiaries and wonder how the process is followed. My mother inlaw and my mother were identified as not beneficiaries because Iam working and perceived as a… Read more »
According to depot managers the truth is that the suppliers are refusing due to low prices offered by government to suppliers, as devaluation has forced suppliers not to release there fertilisers, Why is government devaluing the kwacha is this a deliberate move so suppliers dont supply and we poor malawians suffer. Boma agwrizane ndi ma suppliers chifukwa njala sindi funa chaka za 2016
SUPPLIERS PLEASE RELEASE NPK AS THIS IS CRITICAL TIME TO USE IT.
GOVERNMENT WILL SORT YOU OUT LATER. PLEASE FEEL FOR THE POOR AND HUNGER IMPENDING/CREATED
Dr Allan for nothing. You are lucky that there is no Mangulufi here.
I agree with the statement of chief whip of mcp
This is the worst minister of agriculture since 52 years ago
A Goodall Gondwe si Hon Harry ananena mu parliament kuti ma uppliers akukanilani kukupatsani fertiliser mpska mulipile?
A Henry mpaka ku chita challenge ku Hon harry apeleke umboni
Zitsilu inu anthu a Dpp