As uncertainties hover around this year’s Affordable Inputs Programme-AIP, a non-governmental organization, One Acre Fund has rolled out a farm inputs loan program in Ntcheu district.
The organization’s Government Relations Lead, Lovemore Mtsitsi says the 1.1 billion Kwacha worth input loan program targets 7, 449 farming households for the 2022-2023 growing season in the district.
“Each farming household will access four bags of fertilizer; thus two each for Urea and NPK beside 20 killograms of maize seeds on loan with a repaying period of 10 months but with no interest,” he explains.
He adds that the idea is to ensure farmers are producing and harvesting food that can be used for consumption year round with remaining surplus sold to ably support their families.
Senior Chief Makwangwala of Ntcheu has since urged government to timely deliver on the AIP as the rainy season is approaching; arguing any delay will inconvenience many farmers especially those in hard to reach areas.
“The initiative is timely and will benefit smallholder farmers due to high cost of prices of farm inputs especially at a time this year’s AIP is not giving any hope of implementation,” he said.
On his part, Ntcheu District Council’s Director of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Edward Katunga calls on the organization to consider increasing number of beneficiaries as the district has at least 162 thousand farmers.
Apart from Ntcheu, One Acre Fund is also reaching out to 95 thousand smallholder farmers in Dedza, Mulanje, Thyolo, Chiradzulu, Zomba, Blantyre and Machinga districts.
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