15 500 Fisp beneficiaries in Nkhotakota

Government has provided at least 15 500 coupons to beneficiaries of the targeted Farm Input Subsidy Programme (Fisp) in Nkhotakota.

Since 2005, Malawi Government has invested in Fisp to help poor families who cannot afford farm inputs get fertiliser and hybrid seeds at subsidised prices.

Nkhotakota district crops officer Leonard Chirwa said the distribution had gone on well despite registering a slump in the number of  beneficiaries in the 2019/20 farming season, compared with last farming season where the district 17 500 benefitted. 

“We have not encountered any major challenges and we can say the distribution exercise has been a success,” he said.

Gogo Floriana Kamtondo, a beneficiary, thanked  government for helping her get fertiliser and seeds through the programme.

“The coupon will enable be buy fertiliser and seeds at a subsidised price which I could not afford without the coupon,” she said.

However, group village head Bamba in Sub-Traditional Authority Nkhanga bemoaned continued fluctuations in the number of beneficiaries in the district.

“I am worried with the continued fall of the number of beneficiaries. My village has 40 households benefiting against a total of 600 households,” he said.

At national level, the number of beneficiaries for 2019/20 Fisp programme has also been reduced from one million to 900 000.