Karonga council tips Kradd on AIP

Karonga District Council chairperson Bellium Msukwa has advised agriculture officials to thoroughly prepare for the Agriculture Inputs Programme (AIP) to avoid hitches that kept some farmers waiting in vain last year.

The councillor said this on Monday when he opened a two-day Agriculture Fair organised by Karonga Agricultural Development Division (Kradd) to link farmers with buyers and input providers.

“Our economy is agriculture-based. To achieve food security and turn farming into business, this is the time for officials to prepare for AIP so  that history does not repeat itself,” he said.

Msukwa said most farmers failed to redeem farm inputs last year due to network glitches and long travels to agro-dealers.

“This is the time to correct the mess as the rainy season is around the corner,” he stated.

Kradd programmes manager Aggrey Kamanga said the ministry recently convened different stakeholders, including information and communications technology experts, to avert the setback.

“There will be no congestion this year and AIP beneficiaries will be assisted accordingly as modalities have been put in place to reach out to rural areas through Smallholder Farmers Fertiliser Revolving Fund of Malawi and Admarc,” he said.

Local councils have signed agreements with private companies to affirm their capacity to deliver farm inputs to rural areas.

Kamanga urged farmers to ultilise the fair to seal deals with potential buyers and maximise profits.

He advised them to form cooperatives that enhance their chances to sell their produce in bulk and profitably even abroad.

“Cooperatives also enhance value addition that will also bring in innovations of high standards in terms of packaging to attract foreign markets,” he explained.

Madalitso Mwanyungwe, from Rukuru Women Rice Processing Cooperative, said the fair gave farmers an opportunity to discuss business with potential buyers of the district’s aromatic Kilombero rice.