Chancy Namadzunda, AfricaNews reporter in Lilongwe, Malawi
Following the failure of the Malawi government to distribute fertilizer and seeds under the Farm Inputs Subsidy Program (FISP) to farmers due to the persistent fuel shortage that has rocked the country, United Kingdom, Norway and Ireland has come to the country's rescue after releasing additional K7.7 billion kwacha.
DFID has provided £10.1 million for fertilizer, £9 million for seeds and £370 000 for fuel while the Irish government has provided ¤2.1 million for seeds and ¤1.5 million.
Norway has contributed NK35 million for fertilizer and NK32 million for seeds.
Donor funds make up more than a third of the planned FISP budget with the Malawi government contributing an initial budget allocation of K16.5 billion for the 2011/12 growing season.
Irish ambassador to Malawi Liz Higgins said although the southern Africa nation fell out of grace with the donor community, they are committed to ensuring that poor farmers are producing sufficient good food.
“Fuel shortage and unavailability of fertilizer and seeds provide fear for good harvest,” said Higgins.
DFID head to Malawi Sarah Sanyahumbi said they are keenly aware of the difficulties smallholder farmers have been facing in the country recently.
She said the support will help ensure farmers are able to meet their family’s food needs over the coming year.
Sanyahumbi said although they suspended part of aid in general budgetary support to Malawi in July, they are committed to continue supporting programs that benefit the poor.
“We have noted of some achievements through the FISP like the increment of 750 000 tones per year in maize production which in turn has made the country food secured, so it is very important that we help in any way that will make sure that every household has enough food,” she said.
Finance Minister Ken Lipenga while said fuel shortage has affected the delivery of inputs and the program was on the verge of falling off.
‘Our development partners have responded to our call for assistance like true friends. We all know that the FISP program is very successful and has transformed Malawi from a situation of chronic food insecurity to one where we consistently have surpluses at national level,” he said.
About 1.4 million smallholder farmers are expected to benefit from this years’ subsidy program, down by 200 000 from the 2010/11.
Following the failure of the Malawi government to distribute fertilizer and seeds under the Farm Inputs Subsidy Program (FISP) to farmers due to the persistent fuel shortage that has rocked the country, United Kingdom, Norway and Ireland has come to the country's rescue after releasing additional K7.7 billion kwacha.
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