Beneficiaries of the Agricultural Input Program (AIP) in Mzimba district have expressed concern over the money they are being asked to contribute for the transportation of fertilizer from the Mzuzu warehouse to their selling points.

The money they are required to contribute ranges from 5,000 Kwacha  to 10,000 Kwacha.

According to Councilor for Bulala Ward, Silvester Shumba, the AIP Committee at selling points in Extension Planning Areas (EPAs) of Bulala and Euthini are collecting money from less privileged people, such as the elderly, to access the inputs.

Chief Agriculture Officer for Mzimba, Misheck Chawala, described the incident as stealing from desperate farmers and said that they will look into the matter.

In addition to that, Chawala said that only the Smallholder Farmers Fertilizer Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) is authorized to transport the AIP fertilizer from depots to selling points across the country.