By Linda Kwanjana
The Ministry of Agriculture spells out measures for AIP smooth implementation
The Minister of Agriculture Sam Dalitso Kawale on Monday chronologised subsequent measures aimed at laying a strong foundation towards smooth implementation of the Agricultural Input Programme (AIP).
Kawale said over the past three weeks, his Ministry has been cleaning and harmonizing the data so that soon the public should be notified when the process is completed.
Your Ministry is sourcing fertilizer from thirteen companies that fulfilled all requirements after a restricted tender was floated.
The Minister said the very critical stage which was on signing of contracts with suppliers has been concluded and he spelt the companies which includes
Optichem (2000) Limited, ETG Inputs Ltd
Farmers World, Afriventures Blantyre Limited, Mediterranean Fertilizers DMCC,
Malawi Fertilizer Company, Saeed Investments , Chipala Investments
Sealand Investments Ltd, Midima Holdings Ltd, Chipiku Stores Stores
Zathu Trading, and Paramount Holdings Limited.
Kawale said , the approaches used to reach Beneficiaries has been devised saying, all fertilizer will be retailed to beneficiaries by SFFRFM through the following approaches: SFFRFM is opening additional retailing structures in each new constituency, according to the 2025 constituency boundaries. These will also act as mini-warehouses to facilitate mobile van sales.
The Minister said fund officials, are already in constituencies, identifying these places.
Kawale added that the Ministry will use existing ADMARC deports used across the country just like previous years.
On the seed and livestock, contract arrangements are underway and slated to have suppliers sign contracts by end of this month August.
On redemption of AIP , Kawale said all contracted fertilizer suppliers, regardless of the source, will deliver to regional warehouses of the Smallholder Farmers Fertilizer Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) in order to check conformity with contract specifications as well as
de-congesting the physical shops.
“To check the condition of the fertilizer supplied and make sure it is not solidified, watery, or fake fertilizers.
To check the weights in conformity to the contract specifications. To check the type of fertilizer delivered against the contract agreements. To check quantities of fertilizers delivered against the contract.
To check if the fertilizer bags are marked with Suppliers Name in case of any issues for easy follow-ups”
On the use of Mobile Van sales, Kawale said, knowing that the physical shops opened by SFFRFM will not be enough, the Ministry will allow the Fund to do sales of fertilizer close to farmers regardless of the building (mobile van sales) as long as the mobile network is there for the system to work.
“This approach assists in reaching out to more beneficiaries, reducing distances to be traveled by beneficiaries and de-congesting in physical shops. The actual places for mobile van sales will be finalized once we liase with ADC and other office bearers in all constituencies.
Recruitment of Temporal Sales Clerks. Realizing limited human resources for retailing fertilizers, SFFRFM is recruiting more staff as sales clerks to cover retailing areas to be opened per new constituency and mobile van sales.
On the issue of network coverage, your Ministry is building upon the network system upgraded last year. As you recall, we had a problem the first month of sales. After that, the network performed well for the remaining four months, apart from the localized network problem. This time, the system is being upgraded even more to allow sales clerks to do redemption using GSM service, in the absence of internet,” he said.
The program inputs requirement is estimated at 149,025 MT of fertilizer (74,512.5 MT each of NPK & Urea); Seed will be 7,451.25 MT, while 19,500 female goats which will be distributed in Phalombe, Balaka and Salima districts.
Collection of money. One of the areas that delayed redemption was the delay in collecting money after sales. This also led to two incidences of theft by sales clerks. Your Ministry has discussed with NBS bank to work with the Fund to collect money quickly so that we do not delay redeeming the products.
5.0 TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
Madam Speaker, as earlier stated, fertilizer supplied will be ferried to SFFRFM warehouses. This means that this fertilizer will have to be moved close to the farmers vicinity in their respective selling points. In this regard, your Ministry has finalized procuring transportation services from the service providers in the country. They are just waiting to be told when to start transporting to your constituencies. And this time around, hard-to-reach places will be first to get the fertilizer.
6.0 INVOLVEMENT OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
Members of Parliament will not be requested to help transport fertilizer to their constituencies. Members of Parliament will be requsted to be in their constituencies to assist in making sure that there is order at selling points.
7.0 CONCLUSION
Madam Speaker, let me at this point, thank His Excellency the State President, Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera for putting people’s food security problems at his heart through continued provision of resources to my Ministry to implement the programme. Let me also thank my fellow Cabinet colleagues for taking keen interest in the programme and providing guidance and support on its implementation.
