By Burnett Munthali
The Mchinji Agriculture Office has announced the operational status of three Affordable Input Programme (AIP) selling points located at Mikundi, Tembwe, and Mchinji Boma EPA. Despite the initial progress, beneficiaries have reported slow distribution, revealing persistent issues that risk hampering the program’s effectiveness.
Hastings Yotamu, Director of Agriculture for Mchinji, noted that no formal complaints have yet been lodged. However, beneficiaries at Tembwe and other centers have encountered difficulties that have sparked concerns among both recipients and local leaders. Misheck Banda, one of the beneficiaries, reported being charged additional, unofficial fees to redeem his inputs, while another beneficiary, Magaleta Zulu, experienced delays due to mismatched identification numbers. Martha Jere, who also visited the Tembwe point, described long waits and frequent network outages, causing some beneficiaries to spend days waiting to receive their inputs.
Rodgers Chizizi, Chairperson of the Area Development Committee, acknowledged these complaints, though he admitted the local committee has limited capacity to address them effectively. Traditional Authority Mlonyeni voiced concerns over the distribution delays, fearing a recurrence of the challenges faced in last year’s AIP rollout, which saw many beneficiaries left frustrated and underserved. Similarly, T/A Nyoka urged the Mchinji Agriculture Office to act swiftly to prevent further disruptions in distribution, stressing the importance of addressing network issues and administrative errors.
The AIP has also seen a reduction in the number of beneficiaries in Mchinji, from 60,000 last season to 43,000 this year, which officials have attributed to adjustments in program eligibility and funding. However, local leaders remain worried that unless these operational issues are addressed, the reduced beneficiary count may not lead to smoother operations or faster access for those still eligible.
With the agricultural season underway, stakeholders across Mchinji are calling for immediate improvements to ensure that the AIP, designed to alleviate farmers’ input costs, delivers on its promise efficiently and equitably.
