By Emmanuel Moyo

Karonga District commissioner, Paul Kalilombe has asked chiefs in the district to look into how they choose beneficiaries of Affordable Input Program (AIP) with an aim of giving coupons to right people.

Kalilombe’s remarks come as some farmers have already received the coupons and are alleged to be selling to vendors which shows that they are not supposed to be beneficiaries of the program.
“The farmers who are selling coupons are showing us that they are not supposed to be beneficiaries, so we are asking chiefs and those in the department of agriculture to look into it so that beneficiaries are the right people who can make proper use of the inputs,” he said.

On his part, Chairperson for Karonga District Council, Bellium Msukwa, confirmed that there are indeed some people who are selling coupons to vendors.
“We are also hearing of such development, like last year others even gave out their National identity cards, so we have advised them not to sell the coupons but rather make proper use of the AIP so as to yield more just like those who applied the cheap fertilizer yielded more,” he said.

In a separate interview, Group Village Head Mwangolera said selling of coupons was highly registered last year and has since asked her subjects not to sell the coupons because the government wants to help farmers yield more and not sell the coupons.
“My advised is that, the government gives us such programs so that we can benefit by having a good yield, so let us not misuse this program, do not sell the coupons to vendors,” she said.