Chilima promises agriculture reforms

Presidential candidate for UTM, Saulos Chilima has promised to revive the agriculture sector and make fertiliser  affordable instead of promoting subsidies which he said do not benefit all Malawians.

On Sunday, Chilima  who is also the country’s  Vice-President took his UTM to Malawi Congress Party’s (MCP’s) backyard in Lilongwe rural promising to revive the agricultural sector and urging the people to demand accountability on how their taxes are spent by the government.

His imbizo tour took to constituencies of Lilongwe South, Lilongwe Mapuyu South and Lilongwe Mapuyu North where opposition Malawi Congress Party has parliamentary seats and won the presidential election by a wide margin in 2014.

Realising the uphill task UTM has in Lilongwe rural, Chilima told the gathering not to vote out of mercy or habit.

Chilima had stops at the headquarters of T/A Kalolo , Mkoko, Nsundwe and Mpingu trading centres among other stops .

His remarks focused on agriculture, economic development and education while reminding the people about the power of the ballot paper.

On fertiliser subsidy programme, Chilima said UTM would abolish the system because it was merely duping Malawians into believing their government cared for them.

“The fertiliser subsidy programme has reached childish levels and it has become an insult to Malawians and traditional leaders. You cannot divide a 50kg bag of fertilise between 10 households to apply to one acre of maize and expect people to feed themselves,” he said.

Chilima said his administration would make fertiliser affordable for smallholder farmers to buy what they require and not expect handouts from anyone.

But he would not say the price UTM would peg fertiliser at claiming the incumbent administration has tended to implement his plans hastily to the detriment of ordinary Malawians. 

“People should be economically empowered to build own houses and feed themselves. Free things bring ridicule and shame to a person,” Chilima said.

On Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation currently undergoing reforms, Chilima said he has an action plan to turn into what it used be; a profit making produce market found all across the country.

On tobacco, which is a cash crop in the areas visited, Chilima said he would not allow tobacco buyers to grow tobacco and push smallholder farmers out of the industry.

Apart from talking development, Chilima called on people of Lilongwe rural to demand development and not to allow any political leader give them anything less, for instance, providing a borehole when they rightfully deserve piped water.

“You own the development agenda, you pay taxes. You pay taxes, through soap that you buy or airtime you use in those phones. Nobody should tell you ‘without us you would be nothing’,” he said to the wild ululation of the crowd gathered.