The US ambassador to the UN Food and Agriculture organization has advised the Malawi government to review its spending on the farm input subsidy program for the benefit of other agricultural developments.

David J. Lane made the remarks after noting that the government is channeling a lot of money to the FISP programme, which has currently been marred by irregularities

“Malawi has an impressive level of budget commitment for agriculture. But we also heard that 80% of that spending is the FISP programme. And when we spoke to the local famers, national leaders they talked about the need for irrigation, infrastructure,” said Lane

According to Lane says there is more to achieving food security than providing farm inputs.

“We believe the government had to take a hard look at how to deliver the FISP programme in a more efficient reformed way, is to free up spending to put in those other areas like irrigation and infracture,” said Lane.

The FISP was introduced as one way of insuring food security in the country by ensuring that low income earners are also able to access farm inputs.

However years down the line, most of the people that were expected to benefit from the project are yet to reap the fruits.

Currently, it is has been estimated that at least 2 million people will be affected by hunger.

The government in conjunction with other humanitarian organizations including the World Food Programme started distributing food relief items last year to households affected by Hunger in the country.