By Monica Tambala

Lilongwe, December 6, Mana: Malawi Government has received over 3,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser from the Government of Japan with another 2,000 metric tonnes expected to arrive later this week.

The fertiliser, which will benefit over 104,000 households has been donated through the Affordable Inputs Program (AIP) under which farmers are required to pay a K15,000 contribution to access the fertiliser.

Speaking during the handover ceremony held at Smallholder Farmers Fertiliser Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) head office in Lilongwe on Wednesday, Minister of Agriculture, Sam Kawale hailed the donation saying it is timely and will help reach more farmers with the support at a time the country is experiencing financial difficulties.

“We experienced Cyclone Freddy which devastated the agriculture sector in so many ways. We are spending so much money to invest back into the rehabilitation of the damaged infrastructure in the agriculture sector, crops, livestock and property. It is going to be very difficult for us, as a government, to recover,” he said.

The Minister said aside the donation, the Japanese government provides assistance in other programs and ministries hence the relationship between the two countries should never be taken for granted.

He said the ministry is implementing a couple of programs to ensure stability in food security and economic stability through investing in irrigation, agricultural commercialisation and Mega farms, among others.

Japanese Ambassador to Malawi, Yoichi Oya said the donation is aimed at enhancing Malawi’s food security, improving households, promoting sustainable growth and helping the country overcome some of the complex crises it is facing.

“We have decided to provide this assistance for the people of Malawi to support their lives at this difficult moment caused by escalating prices of commodities including food and to address forex shortage which is compounding the country’s economic challenges.

“Stable access to food forms the basis for people to live with dignity. With human dignity as one of the pillars of its diplomacy, Japan will spare no effort to defend human dignity through international cooperation,” he said.

The ambassador implored Ministry of Agriculture and SFFRFM to ensure proper management and distribution of the fertiliser so that it reaches the intended beneficiaries and is properly used to promote food security and economic stabilisation of the country.

The Government of Japan committed a grant of 650 million JPY (approximately K7 billion) to facilitate procurement of 5,200 metric tonnes of fertiliser.