Mzimba Farmers Hope For Bumper Yields With Affordable Fertilizer
Temwanani Chirwa, a 48-year-old farmer from Kapokolo Village, said the program will help her overcome previous challenges with soil fertility.
MZIMBA, MALAWI— Subsistence farmers in northern Malawi are expressing optimism about improving crop yields after gaining access to affordable fertiliser through the government's Affordable Farm Inputs Programme (AIP) for the 2024/2025 growing season, writes Victoria Yande.
The program targets 45,541 farmers, with fertilizer sales already underway at reduced prices. A 50-kilogram bag of urea fertilizer is being sold for 15,000 Malawi Kwacha, significantly lower than market rates.
Temwanani Chirwa, a 48-year-old farmer from Kapokolo Village, said the program will help her overcome previous challenges with soil fertility.
"My farmland can no longer give me yields without applying fertilizer," Chirwa said. She expects to harvest more than 20 bags from her two-acre plot.
Many farmers like Chirwa have struggled to afford fertiliser at market prices.
"Most of us beneficiaries are just subsistence farmers who cultivate for food," she explained. "We don't have the financial muscle to buy fertilizer at current market value."
Julius Banda, AIP coordinator for Mzimba Agriculture office, confirmed that 32 selling points have been established, including mobile markets, to ensure farmer access.
Seventy-one-year-old beneficiary Joys Kamanga has participated in the program three times.
"Since I started benefiting from the program, a lot of things have changed in my life," Kamanga said. He can now purchase two fertilizer bags and pay school fees for his family.
Local leaders have praised the initiative. Group Village Headman Amon Moyo noted that food security enables community development.
"When communities have enough food, it becomes easier for them to undertake self-projects," Moyo said. "Hunger drives away hard-working spirit."
Traditional Authority Mzukuzuku called for expanding the program, suggesting an increase in beneficiaries for the next agricultural season.
"This programme is doing wonders in enabling farmers to harvest," the traditional authority said.
Martin Jinkho from Yelemiah Mawaso village reassured farmers about the timing.
"Some people were panicking that government was delaying in starting selling the fertiliser, but I can assure you that this is just the right time as planting rains are yet to start," Jinkho said.
The AIP aims to support small-scale farmers who previously struggled to afford fertilizer at market prices, potentially improving food security in the region.