People shun development over Fisp

Some families in Chikwawa—which fail to make it onto the list of beneficiaries of Farm Input Subsidy Programme (Fisp)—refuse to take part in development activities in their areas, Weekend Nation has learnt.

Traditional Authority Chapananga of Chikwawa confirmed the development at a media clinic the National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust organised for communities to voice out their concerns on the state of local governance and development in their areas.

Chapananga explained: “People here are attaching their participation in development activities to subsidised inputs. It’s either you get a coupon or you don’t contribute to development in your areas.”

But Chapananga said the problem stems from people’s failure to appreciate that government does not allocate them adequate inputs.

He said Chikwawa has never been allocated adequate inputs since the programme rolled out about 10 years ago.

“Imagine, a village with over 100 resource-poor families being allocated five coupons per season! Chiefs here have tough time to exercise impartiality when non-benefitting households are in majority. In the end, non-benefitting families think they are outcasts and they shun developmental activities taking place in their respective communities,” he said.

But Nice regional civic education officer for the South, Enock Chinkhuntha, warned that communities stand to lose if chiefs do not take steps to correct the situation.

Chinkhuntha emphasised that government did not intend for Fisp to benefit everyone as the initiative aims at empowering targeted farmers per season.

“I wish to ask community leaders to sensitise people on the mission of the programme to ensure development activities do not continue suffering unnecessary setback. Those who don’t benefit should stop attaching their participation in development activities to subsidised inputs,” he said.