Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Roza Fatch Mbilizi, has reaffirmed government’s commitment to ensuring that farming households fully benefit from the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FSIP), stressing that the initiative remains central to improving agricultural productivity and strengthening food security.
Speaking during a press briefing in Lilongwe, the Minister said government is determined to ensure that the programme serves its intended beneficiaries.
She announced that one of the major decisions taken this year is the expansion of the beneficiary list from 528,020 to 1.1 million farming households, allowing more Malawians to access subsidised farm inputs.
Mbilizi also revealed that the programme’s redemption rate currently stands at 12 percent, with over 131,000 beneficiaries having already successfully collected their inputs.
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Dr. Ben Phiri, issued a stern warning to district authorities, including traditional leaders and council officials, over reported cases of interference in the implementation of FSIP.
He condemned the malpractices occurring at district level and cautioned that government will not hesitate to take legal action against anyone found sabotaging the programme.
Both ministers reiterated that FSIP must remain transparent, efficient, and strictly focused on supporting Malawi’s farming communities.
