The government has asked civil society organisations (CSOs) to help it sensitise people to the importance of utilising agricultural inputs loans which National Economic Empowerment Fund (Neef) is providing.
It says proper utilisation of the resources would help the country unlock its economic potential while ensuring that food security goals are met.
Information Minister Moses Kunkuyu said this in Mangochi District and Liwonde in Machinga District Thursday, when he joined Neef officials in distributing fertiliser loans to farmers.
The initiative is taking place across the country
“CSOs have a critical role to play in ensuring that people that are getting the loans understand their responsibility; that is, the need to pay back the loans so that others can equally benefit from them. Neef loans are revolving, meaning that a lot of people can benefit from them if payment of the loans is enhanced and sustained.
“The government wants to end hunger in this country but this can be possible if the agriculture loans are used and paid accordingly by the beneficiaries. We appreciate the role the CSOs play in Malawi, hence we count on them to be part of the process,” he said.
This current farming season, Neef is distributing agriculture loans amounting to K150 billion to farmers across the country, according to chief executive officer Humphrey Mdyetseni.
Mdyetseni said they would continue distributing the loans as they were targeting winter cropping.
He said they were doing so upon the realisation that some farmers had already planted maize seed, with some of the maize being at an advanced stage of growth.
‘Going forward, be assured that we will start distributing next farming season’s fertiliser loans and cash as early as July so that, by the time people go into their fields in October, the fertiliser will be in their houses,” he said.
On his part, Agriculture Deputy Minister Benedicto Chambo encouraged loan beneficiaries to utilise the fertiliser, instead of selling it to vendors.
“The fertiliser is like business capital for you; so, don’t sell your capital. We will end hunger if you, our farmers, are vigilant in your fields,” he said.
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