The National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) has warned beneficiaries of its Micro Irrigation Loans that it will withdraw support from any communities found misusing the provided inputs.
NEEF Chief Executive Officer Humphrey Mdyetseni issued the warning in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Simphasi in Mchinji during the launch of the initiative in the district.
“The loans are intended to supplement rain-fed agriculture, which has been affected by drought and impacted the country’s food basket,” Mdyetseni said. He added that NEEF is working closely with various stakeholders to ensure the inputs are used effectively.
At the launch, the chairperson of the Malabada Irrigation Scheme, Peter Michael Nkhoma, welcomed the initiative, saying the loan had come at the right time for their 28-acre farmland and would significantly improve the economic livelihoods of its members.
Through the Micro Irrigation Loans, NEEF aims to reach 200,000 farmers nationwide. The program has already been launched in the Southern and Central regions and will be extended to the Northern region next week.
