Medef closes gaps in fertiliser loan
Malawi Enterprise Development Fund (Medef) is scheduled to disburse about 10 000 tonnes of fertiliser on loan to farmers’ clubs and cooperatives across the country in the forthcoming growing season.
In an interview, Medef spokesperson Isaac Mbekeani said the current fertiliser has been modified to reduce high defaulting rates that affected a similar initiative previously.
Mzimba registered high number of defaulters in the 2013/2014 growing season, with total loss estimated at K46 million.
He said groups interested to benefit from the recast loan will undergo rigorous assessment to avoid defaulters.
Mbekeani said: “We came up with this loan to help the farmers who struggle to find money for fertiliser.
“To have access to the loan, a farmer has to belong to a group which is established and not just any other group.”
Tilipano Club chairperson Felix Mgomezulu said the loan will cushion the challenges they face to buy fertiliser on time.
He asked Medef to disburse the fertiliser in time as farmers prepare their fields, not when the maize is not redeemable.
Each farmer gets up to four bags of Urea and 23:21:+4S. n
