Sam Banda, Africanews reporter in Malawi
Kenya has parted Malawi on the back for its well articulated programme of attaining food security both at household and national level without depending on foreign aid.
Kenya's Director of Agriculture Humphrey Mwangi said at the end of a five day study tour in the Southern African country to learn and appreciate the background information on policies behind the agricultural farm inputs like fertilizer subsidy programme.
Malawi's Monday local paper of the Guardian said Mwangi observed that it was unfortunate that the African continent underrates itself in its ability to produce sufficient food for its people.
He therefore said it was encouraging that the Southern African country Malawi has made a tremendous improvement in fighting hunger by introducing among others the fertilizer subsidy programme.
Mwangi said their visit had paid dividends in that they had learnt a number of lessons which he said would be used in Kenya.
The Kenyan Director said his country recently also embarked on a similar programme which came through the National Accelerated Agricultural Input Access Programme (NAAIAP) and covers maize growing agro-geological zones in 36 districts of 149.
He however said the programme was marred by the post election violence that saw many people being killed.
Malawi's deputy minister of Agriculture Frank Mwenefumbo said the subsidy programme has been successful over the years with the leadership of president Bingu Wa Mutharika resulting in the country realising more yields.
However the subsidy programme which has seen the country distributing farm inputs like fertilizer and seeds has been attacked by the opposition.
Malawi's opposition has claimed the coupons which farmers receive in order to benefit from the inputs have eluded the poor people.
According to the Guardian, the Kenyan delegation is the third to visit Malawi for lessons whereas other countries like Tanzania, Sudan, Swaziland and Ethiopia are also set to visit on the same programme.
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