Number of hunger affected Malawians increase

Government has said will roll out distribution of coupons for Farm Input Subsidy Program (FISP) next week.

Speaking at a press briefing Minister of Agriculture George Chaponda said government has carefully considered the fact that farmers were highly charged by retailers last year as only 40 percent of them were allowed to sale fertilizer and seeds.

“A bag of fertilizer will be sold at K15, 000, maize seed k5000 and legume k2500,” said Chaponda.

He added private traders will be retailing fertilizer directly to smallholder farmers and each district will have not less than four retailers.

“For Nsanje and Chitipa, only ADMARC and SFFRFM will retail their inputs,” Chaponda said.

Commenting on the food situation in the country, Chaponda said the number of people affected by hunger has reached 6.7 million from 6.5 million.