Items filtered by date: July 2025

By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, November 29, Mana: At least 20 houses were destroyed on Thursday by stormy rains in the area of Senior Chief Mwenewenya in Chitipa District.

Councillor for Wenya Ward who is also Chairperson for Chitipa District Council, Ronald Kayira, said that the area received heavy rains accompanied by strong winds on Thursday resulting in destruction of some houses.

“Many houses have been destroyed and initial assessment is underway to establish exact households affected in group village heads Mfinda, Sekwa and Kalowe in the area of Senior Chief Mwenewenya,” Kayira said.

Disaster Risk Management Officer for Chitipa District Council, Mphatso Nedson said that his office has received reports from Wenya Area Disaster Risk Management Committee (ADRMC) concerning the disaster that has hit the area.

“Approximately 20 households have been destroyed by stormy rains and Village Disaster Risk Management Committee and ADRMC members are on the ground assessing the magnitude of the damage,” Nedson said.

By Abel Ikiloni

Blantyre, November 29, Mana: Vice President Dr. Michael Usi has urged the people of Chonde in Mulanje to have trust in the government as it works to address various challenges facing Malawians, including hunger.

Usi was speaking on Thursday when he interacted with small-scale business people at Luchenza Trading Centre in Thyolo and Chonde Market in Mulanje District.

He said government remains determined to resolve all the challenges affecting the country, calling on people to exercise patience.

The VP also urged people not to be exploited by politicians to engage in violent political activities.

During the tour, Usi in his personal capacity distributed fertilizers to vulnerable elderly person in Mulanje.

On his way back from Mulanje, he also briefly stopped at Chonde Market and in Blantyre where he interacted with market vendors at Chikapa and Luanda in Machinjiri Township.

Addressing the people, Usi asked people to have trust with the current government because it is trying all it can to deal with the problems people are going through.

In his remarks, chairperson for the Luanda Market, Saidi Tsinkha commended the Vice President for visiting their area.

By Rose Cross Mahorya and Manasse Nyirenda

Mzuzu, November 29, Mana: Strong wind accompanied by partial rains on Thursday blew off roofs of some houses and school blocks in Mzimba and Rumphi districts.

In Mzimba among other destroyed structures include Baula Primary School which is one of the voter registration centres in Mzimba North East Constituency.

Confirming the incident, District Elections Officer for Mzimba North, Demeria Rocha said the situation led to temporal suspension of the voter registration exercise at the centre but assured the situation is under control.

“Registration will proceed tomorrow. There has been no injury but personal belonging of our officers have been destroyed,” said Rocha.

In a related development, the voter registration exercise at Chinyera in Mzimba East Constituency was disrupted after several officers fell ill with diarrhea, and one officer was referred to Mzuzu Central Hospital for treatment.

According to Medical Officer for Mzimba North District Health Office, Shadreck Mzima Ngwira, health personnel have already been alerted to monitor the situation and establish the cause of the disease.

In a related development, stormy rains, on Thursday damaged classroom blocks at Chiyvaladi and Fyolonga primary schools in Rumphi disrupting teaching and learning.

Primary Education Advisor (PEA) for Mzokoto Education Zone, Tamara Mkandawire said that a block that housed two classes including the school’s deputy head teacher’s house had their roofs blown off.

"We are currently planning on double shift classes to ensure that we continue with teaching and learning. Some classes will be learning in the morning while others later in the day.

We therefore need portable black boards to ensure that classes continue without much challenges as some learners will still be learning outside due to inadequate classes," said Mkandawire.

Miriam Mtumbuka, PEA for Luviri Education Zone in which Fyolonga Primary School is located, said that there is urgent need for rehabilitation of the school block for classes to return to normal.

Chief Education Officer for Rumphi, Emmanuel Mwalirino said that his office is currently assessing the situation.

“We are planning to implement temporary redress measures to ensure that classes are not disrupted for an extended period,” said Mwalirino.

Chiyvaladi and Fyolonga primary schools have enrollment of 450 and 170 learners respectively and no injury has been reported in both cases.

By Evance Chisiano

Chiradzulu, November 28, Mana:  A grouping of people from Namitambo in Chiradzulu called Zakwathu Ku Namitambo Trust on Thursday organised a career talk at Namadidi and Muhasuwa Community Day Secondary Schools in the district to give proper career guide to students.

Zakwathu Ku Namitambo Trust National Coordinator, Pacharo Namatumbo said the career talk was part of the trust’s school outreach programmes that are also meant to motivate students to aim higher in their education.

Zakwathu Ku Namitambo which has members in many parts of Malawi, started in 2017 as a WhatsApp group of people from Namitambo before it got registered as a trust in 2021, prompting the entity to offer bursary to needy students from schools at Namitambo area.

“We started small but we’re growing big to do more for this area. We provided bursary to needy students. We also planted trees in three primary schools here at Namitambo in the previous forestry season,” the National Coordinator added.

During the career talk, Nursing and midwifery technician, a police officer, journalist and a teacher provided career guide to the students at Namadidi and Muhasuwa secondary schools where the interaction enabled the students to learn more about the professions.

He said Zakwathu Ku Namitambo Trust will continue to motivate students in the area to see children in the area succeed in secondary and tertiary education.

The trust also gave out MK20, 000 to each of four best students at Namadidi and MK10, 000 to each of eight best students at Muhasuwa to motivate them further.

A form 1 student at Namadidi CDSS, Maureen Kachingwe said was grateful for being recognised as best performing student in her class, saying this was a great recognition and honour.

Namadidi CDSS Head Teacher, Mavuto Kachingwe hailed Zakwathu Ku Namitambo Trust for organizing the career talk which he said was ideal for the students at Namitambo and called on the trust to keep on providing career guidance to students to motivate them further.

“Give us the energy, we will not be the same. You are a friend in need, you’re a true partner,” the head teacher added.

Namadidi CDSS has an enrollment of 195 students.

Muhasuwa CDSS Deputy Head Teacher, Mercy Macheza also thanked the trust for organising the career talk to students, noting the talk provided enough guidance and also provided motivation to the students.

Muhasuwa CDSS has 400 students in the mainstream and 250 students in the open section.

By Leonard Masauli

Lilongwe, November 28, Mana: Belia Chipeta, 78, from Kajiso Shaba Village in Traditional Authority Mthwalo in Mzimba, never believed that the Affordable Input Programme (AIP) truly existed.

Since the programme was established years ago, she had never benefited, which made her feel that only those connected to the Member of Parliament or related to chiefs were privileged to access it.

For decades, her farming journey yielded no significant results. Her household endured hunger year in and year out because she could not afford fertilizer and had to rely on a few kilos sold by vendors, which were never enough.

The years of insufficient harvests left Chipeta struggling to provide enough food for her family, making food security an unattainable dream.

However, everything changed when she learned her name was among the beneficiaries for the 2024-2025 farming season. She felt a surge of joy, knowing she would now farm with renewed hope and peace of mind.

“When I heard that my name had been considered to buy affordable fertilizer, I jumped in disbelief because I knew that my challenges with food security were finally over," said Chipeta.

"Today, I have managed to buy two bags, which will be enough for my garden. I believe this will transform my household from being food insecure to food secure," she added.

Chipeta thanked the government for introducing the programme, saying it is a game-changer for agricultural productivity.

Another beneficiary, Eleaner Kanyimbo from Chilongozi Village in Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe's area in Rumphi district, also commended the AIP saying it has potential to make people food secure and expressed her gratitude for being included in the programme.

"As a beneficiary this year, I feel honoured to be among those buying fertilizer. I am confident I will have enough food next year," said Kanyimbo.

She also appreciated the government’s efforts to ensure fertilizer is available on time and with minimal hurdles.

"I was nervous when I heard about issues like network problems, mismatched names, and other glitches. But all those have been resolved. I believe that by next year, I will not only have enough food but also surplus to sell, which will help pay school fees for my children and buy other household necessities," she added.

From Ekwendeni in Mzimba North, Blessings Twea echoed Kanyimbo's sentiments, emphasizing that the price of fertilizer on the market is unaffordable for many farmers, but AIP has made it possible for them to access it.

"We thank the government for being considerate. There are farmers who are elderly or living with disabilities who cannot afford to raise over MK100,000 for fertilizer. This programme provides a much-needed cushion for such people," said Twea.

Senior Group Village Headwoman Mankhambira from Nkhatabay also expressed her gratitude, saying the programme will significantly improve food security in communities.

"Many people could not harvest enough in the last growing season because they could not afford fertilizer. The AIP will help farmers produce enough, as fertilizer is now within their reach. So far, there have been no problems; people are buying freely," she said.

Programmes Manager for Mzuzu Agricultural Development Division (ADD), Anderson Chikomola, said that this year’s AIP has targeted 101,914 beneficiaries across the four district councils of M'mbelwa, Rumphi, Nkhatabay, and Likoma.

Chikomola said the programme has begun smoothly, with 94 selling points established across the ADD where farmers are already redeeming their inputs.

"We have prioritized hard-to-reach areas so that farmers have ample time to buy fertilizer and seeds before the rains start," he explained.

"Additionally, the programme has a multifaceted approach. Beyond AIP, some farmers are benefiting from NEEF loans and livestock initiatives. We believe this programme will not only ensure food security for farmers but also enable them to sell surplus, creating opportunities for others to benefit," Chikomola added.

By Martin Chiwanda

Machinga, November 29, Mana: Beneficiaries of Affordable Input Program (AIP) in Machinga have described the initiative as the best approach that government has used to bail its people from poor harvest and food insecurity.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Thursday, a 46 years old beneficiary from Traditional Authority Sitola, Damson Baton said he is pleased with the program saying it has reduced chances of poor harvest which he mostly faces as a result of poor crop nutrition due to lack of fertilizer.

Damson said he possess a very big land and buying fertilizer to much up the whole land was very difficult considering the prices of the commodity.

"The programe has seriously come as a savior considering that we are living in a time where most prices of goods have gone very high. I have a very big land and I always come with very low outputs despite my efforts.

"But with the AIP, it’s a sigh of relief knowing I stand a chance of having more harvest this season,” he said.

William Magombe is another beneficiary from Poteya village who has also hailed government for the AIP saying he will be able to produce more harvests and avert hunger this coming year.

Magombe said being one of the beneficiaries; he will utilize the opportunity in investing in farming so that he could produce more, to differentiate himself from those who have not had the opportunity.

"I will surely use the opportunity that I have for being in the programme. All I need is to use it in doing more in farming this year so that I should produce more harvest,” he said.

Machinga district director of agriculture, environment and natural resources (DAENR), Isaac Alli, said he is happy to see beneficiaries having great plans for the inputs they are getting.

"I will be very happy if these farmers use the inputs to improve their lives. I do not expect them to sell the inputs instead of applying them to their fields," he said, urging all beneficiaries to seize the opportunity and use the fertilizer on their own land.

Machinga has 27, 697 beneficiaries who are expected to benefit from the program.

According to Ali, the distribution of AIP to beneficiaries began in hard-to-reach areas, especially given the challenges of the rainy season. As a result, Ngokwe, Chikweo, Nampeya, Nayuchi, and Sale were prioritized, and bags of fertilizer have already arrived in these locations, where beneficiaries have begun purchasing them.

By James Mwale

Ntchisi, November 28, Mana: Affordable Input Program (AIP) Coordinator for Ntchisi Salim Mndoka has advised AIP beneficiaries to venture into other forms of farming methods in order to increase productivity in the district.

Mndoka told Malawi News Agency on Wednesday that following the reduction of AIP beneficiaries from 44, 980 the last rainy season to 31,011 this rainy season due to budget allocation from the treasury, people in the district should apply other farming methods like use of organic manure and irrigation farming in order to address hunger issues.

He said the devaluation of the kwacha has led to hike in fertilizer prices making Ministry of Agriculture to maintain only the fertilizer prices and not the number of beneficiaries.

He said: “the decrease means that government did not want farmers to be buying the fertilizer at a higher price but rather it has maintained the MK15, 0000 price and reducing the number of beneficiaries.

“Farmers in the district should desist from selling the affordable inputs but rather use the inputs to good use because they should know that they will not be benefiting each and every year.”

The district’s Council Chairperson councilor Marko Mtengo said the program has made a lot of people in the district to be self-reliant saying farmers are encouraged not only to rely on the program but also to use available resources in their communities.

Mtengo called on the beneficiaries of this year’s Affordable Input Program to make good use of the fertilizer and other inputs they are to access through the program saying it is sad to see that a lot of beneficiaries sell the inputs instead of using them wisely.

“As people have already started buying the inputs in the district I believe that there will not be any challenges that will affect the program and we believe that no cases of theft will be registered” He added.

Memory Yohane a beneficiary of this year’s AIP said she was happy that her name had been included in the program and hoped to benefit a lot from the same.

She has since concurred with the Mndoka and Mtengo on the need to apply alternative farming methods other than full reliance on the AIP.

By Leah Malimbasa

Mulanje, 28 November, Mana: The Director of Agriculture and Natural Resources for Mulanje District Osmound Chapotoka has advised farmers benefitting from the Affordable Inputs Program (AIP) to refrain from selling their subsidized inputs.

Speaking on Thursday, Chapotoka emphasized the importance of using the fertilizer as intended, to improve household food security and boost agricultural productivity.

“Farmers should prioritize their crops, the subsidized fertilizer can ensure better harvests and reduce reliance on food aid,” he said.

He added that if well managed, just one hectare of land can produce 100 bags of maize, ensuring the farmer has enough maize for food and sell some for their other basic needs.

The call resonated with farmers who pledged to make the most of the inputs. One of the farmers from Kumwambe village, Traditional Authority (TA) Mabuka in Mulanje who was not a beneficiary last year, shared her optimism about the program.

"Last year, I was not on the list of beneficiaries, and I only managed to harvest six bags of maize. This year, I am hopeful I will yield more because I have bought the subsidized fertilizer and plan to use it well," she said.

Another farmer from Wasi Village, TA Mabuka, Dorothy Mazima recounted her struggles in the last growing season, which were compounded by dry spells and an army worm infestation.

"I didn’t have fertilizer last year and only harvested one bag of maize to feed my family of five. Now, we rely on my husband doing piecework to buy food. I am hopeful the fertilizer I’ve bought through AIP will improve food security for my household this season," she explained.

AIP is a government initiative which provides subsidized fertilizer and seeds to smallholder farmers to enhance food production across the country.

By Mary Makhiringa

Balaka, November 28, MANA: Authorities in Balaka District have commended government for rolling out 2024/2025 Affordable Input Programme (AIP), expressing hope that farmers will harvest more yields this farming season.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency, one of the farmers from the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Kachenga, Yamikani Matope expressed gratitude for being enrolled on the programme citing that previously he could not harvest more yields because of limited fertilizer.

"Last year, I used manure for my farming and I only got five bags but with the fertilizer that I will use this year, I am optimistic to harvest nine to ten bags.

"I am grateful to government because my life will change and I would urge the same government to enroll more people in the upcoming season so that hunger should be history in our area," he added.

Commenting on the development, Group Village Head (GVH) Mtumbwe said the programme will cushion hunger in his area as many people who are on the programme would not manage to afford fertilizers from the vendors.

"A good number of people have benefitted from AIP and we just urge the government to speed up and finalize the process of selling the commodity because people have already planted their crops," he said.

G.H.V Mtumbwe however called for government to streamline the system of enrolling the beneficiaries by involving local leaders and extension workers saying this would eliminate some of the shortfalls within the programme.

Meanwhile, Smallholder Farmers Fertilizers Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) Sales Clerk for Balaka Boma, Frank Maselenga said the cordial relationship among their entity, local leaders, district agriculture office and the central government has allowed the process of selling fertilizer to be successful.

He emphasized that from the three stocks that they had previously at Balaka Boma, farmers were able to purchase both NPK and Urea.

By Mary Makhiringa

Balaka, November 28, MANA: Authorities in Balaka District have commended government for rolling out 2024/2025 Affordable Input Programme (AIP), expressing hope that farmers will harvest more yields this farming season.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency, one of the farmers from the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Kachenga, Yamikani Matope expressed gratitude for being enrolled on the programme citing that previously he could not harvest more yields because of limited fertilizer.

"Last year, I used manure for my farming and I only got five bags but with the fertilizer that I will use this year, I am optimistic to harvest nine to ten bags.

"I am grateful to government because my life will change and I would urge the same government to enroll more people in the upcoming season so that hunger should be history in our area," he added.

Commenting on the development, Group Village Head (GVH) Mtumbwe said the programme will cushion hunger in his area as many people who are on the programme would not manage to afford fertilizers from the vendors.

"A good number of people have benefitted from AIP and we just urge the government to speed up and finalize the process of selling the commodity because people have already planted their crops," he said.

G.H.V Mtumbwe however called for government to streamline the system of enrolling the beneficiaries by involving local leaders and extension workers saying this would eliminate some of the shortfalls within the programme.

Meanwhile, Smallholder Farmers Fertilizers Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) Sales Clerk for Balaka Boma, Frank Maselenga said the cordial relationship among their entity, local leaders, district agriculture office and the central government has allowed the process of selling fertilizer to be successful.

He emphasized that from the three stocks that they had previously at Balaka Boma, farmers were able to purchase both NPK and Urea.