67% Fisp fertilizer already on the market

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security says 67 percent of the fertiliser for the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (Fisp) has so far been transported to retail markets.

“Currently 71 percent of the contracted fertiliser has been delivered to our depots of which 67 percent has been lifted to retail markets across the country,” said the ministry’s spokesperson, Sarah Tione.

On the increased numbers of theft that have marred the programme this year, Tione said such issues were in the hands of the police.

“The police are our main stakeholder and they are the ones responsible for dealing with police cases. They are in a better position to give you proper figures.

“But on malpractices, the ministry earlier published measures that have been put in place to control such issues like having a toll free number where people can report at any time, having control checks for transporters on every route of delivery, feedback report on each delivery,” she said.

She said the measures have resulted in the curbing of many malpractices.

Apart from massive theft and diversion of the inputs this year’s programme has also registered cases of sand being found in the fertiliser bags.

The Farmers Union of Malawi (Fum) has since described this year’s programme as the worst since Fisp started eight years ago.

According to Fum, close to 500, 000 people are yet to access the inputs.