AIP Fertilizer Benefiting Zambians

This year’s Affordable Inputs Program (AIP) is meeting numerous challenges giving foreign nationals more particularly from Zambia a chance to benefit from the programme.

The development comes at a time when government targeted beneficiaries are failing to access the seeds and fertilizers due to very long cues at various selling points across the country.

The Malawi Daily Telegraph’s visit to some boarder areas in Mzimba district have witnessed some trucks carrying the precious commodity to neighboring County, (Zambia).

Meanwhile, the Parliamentarian for Mzimba Luwerezi, Sam Chirwa has also confirmed that some constituents have reported to him that some Zambians are taking advantage of the rot in the way the programme is being administered to take away the AIP Fertilizer across the boarder at night.

“I have received such reports and I am currently here at home, we met yesterday to check and come up with solutions to the malpractices,” Chirwa said.

*Smuggling of Agricultural materials is the order of the day*

Ironically, the Chairperson for Mabilabo Development Trust (MDT), Ken Mthuzi expressed ignorance with the reports of AIP fertilizers being smuggled to Zambia by some scrupulous traders.

“Am on the ground right now, I have not heard of any such malpractices rather than short supply and few people including Police officers being found with IDs. I have heard of the fertilizer being sold to vendors but i have not heard where to the vendors take the fertilizer,” Mthuzi said.

However, the Chairperson for Mabilabo Social Network, Keeper Gumbo confirmed that it is no longer a secret that AIP fertilizers are finding its way to Zambia using unchartered routes during nights.

Farmers are paying K15,000 per bag to access the AIP free fertilizer Malawians received from Russia and Moroccan governments aimed at covering the deficit that was there in the national budget for the purchase to make sure that all the 2.5 million targeted farming households get fertilizer.

*Malawi maize and fertilizers stocks in foreign markets*

A few weeks ago the Chairperson for this year’s AIP programme, Richard Chimwendo Banda was quoted by the local media saying government has an obligation to make sure everyone gets the AIP Fertilizer.