Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale has said there is no time-frame for phasing out the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) as such prospects will depend on the extent to which people are absorbed into other programmes.
The minister’s position comes amid concerns of delays in the selection of fertiliser suppliers for the 2024/25 AIP, a development which has placed companies on hold as they wait for government to release results of the prequalification of suppliers.
Kawale said in an interview yesterday that at the moment, government is focusing on irrigation, Agriculture Commercialisation Project (Agcom), megafarms and commercial farming which he said represent the future of agriculture in Malawi.
“We are moving from subsidies to commercial farming. So you will see me talk less about subsidies and more on commercial farming,” he said.
However, the minister could not give timelines for the entire 2024/25 AIP, saying such will be communicated when they are ready.
Kawale also allayed fears of any delays in the process, saying the government was at a very advanced stage in selecting suppliers. He said the Fertiliser Association of Malawi was aware of the process.
The minister also dismissed assertions that the ministry is directly involved in the sourcing of the 2024/25 AIP fertiliser at the expense of the Smallholder Farmers Fertiliser Revolving Fund of Malawi which is mandated to do the job.
He said: “That is a very wrong impression. Headquarters never procures fertiliser. The fund has always been in full control.
“We only provide funds and technical support just like we do with all other companies under us.
“All companies under the ministry get funding from the Treasury. They do all the work on their own as companies. We just provide technical support if needed and also policy direction,” he said.
But Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture chairperson Sameer Suleman, in an interview yesterday, said fears of a delay are genuine considering that time is running out.
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