K470m lost in FISP

Malawi lost K470 million (about $940 000) through fertiliser diversion in the 2012/13 season in Farm Input Subsidy Programme (Fisp), police have said.

Regional commissioner of Police for the South, Wilson Matinga, was speaking on Thursday in Blantyre during the opening of stakeholders best practices on handling of Fisp.

“I am aware that police have registered over 10 theft cases in two regions involving Admarc officials and some of our police officers. This is very unfortunate. Instead of us making sure that subsidised inputs reach intended beneficiaries, we are in the fore front mismanaging the programme.

“Let me appeal to all stakeholders to join hands and ensure subsidised inputs reach beneficiaries and theft that perpetrators get stiffer penalties,” said Matinga.

He said prevention of theft saves resources than investigation and prosecution of cases.

Matinga thanked the Department for International Development (DfID), Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM), Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for supporting the Malawi Police Service (MPS) in implementing safety and security strategies.

The meeting was attended by officers from the police, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Judiciary, Ministry of Agriculture, Water Development and Food Security, Smallholder Farmers Fertilizer Revolving Fund (SFFRF) and Admarc.