Government continues to come under heavy criticism for its delays to roll out this year’s Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP).
The development follows a cloud of uncertainty that continues to hover over the actual date this year’s AIP will be launched and also, the actual number of its beneficiaries.
In a press statement which the Civil Society Network on Agriculture (CISANET) released on Tuesday, and was duly signed by the network’s board chairperson Herbert Chagona, CisaNet also expressed worry over government’s delays to determine the prices of fertilizer under the AIP, just one-and-a-half months left before the onset of the rainy season.
“Fertilizer plays a pivotal role in agricultural productivity, and its timely availability at an affordable price is essential to enable farmers to prepare adequately for the planting season. Without this crucial information, farmers are left in a state of uncertainty, jeopardizing their ability to plan effectively,” said Chagoma.
According to the network’s board chairperson, these delays are a contradiction to government’s commitment to ensuring food security in the country.
“The Civil Society Network on Agriculture (CisaNet) wishes to express its deep concern over the significant delays in the rollout of the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) by the Malawi Government. This delay is a contradiction to the government’s commitment to supporting poor farmers and ensuring food security in the country,” he said.
Chagona has therefore advised the authorities to learn from challenges that rocked the programme in recent farming seasons.
“It is crucial that the government reflects on and applies lessons learned from the recent past two years to avoid a recurrence of such challenges,” said Chagona.