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All is set for this year’s AIP Programme

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All is set for this year’s AIP Programme



By Alfred Chauwa

Ministry of Agriculture says all is set for this year’s Affordable Input Programme, (AIP) to be rolled out.

Minister responsible Sam Kawale, has highlighted government’s readiness for the AIP in the 2024/25 farming season.

The Minister made the remarks on Monday, during a press briefing at Smallholder Farmers Fertilizer Revolving Fund of Malawi, (SFFRFM) Warehouse at Kanengo in Lilongwe.

Kawale said 1,054,945 smallholder farmers  will benefit from the program.

Hon Sam Kawale and Hon Kunkuyu



He said beneficiaries will be entitled  to  buy one 50 kg bag of  Urea and one 50 kg of  NPK  and  5kgs cereal seeds while paying K15,000 for a 50 kg bag of Urea and NPK respecively.

The total amount of fertilizer required  for this years program is 104,845 MT of which 102,845 MT is from the carry over stocks.

Currently the Ministry has engaged 19 private suppliers mostly local Malawians to supply fertilizer  to government  through  the Smallholder  Farmers  Fertilizers Revolving Fund  of Malawi warehouses.

Kawale emphasized government’s commitment in supporting commercial oriented households through various initiatives such as Farm Input Loans under National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF), AGCOM 2 funding for large-scale farming, the Mega Farm Support Unit, AGRA’s Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food Agriculture Programme (YEFFAP), and the Sustainable Agriculture Production Programme 2 (SAPP2).

Kawale further said government plan to assist more than two million households with food aid, cash transfers, and grants in the upcoming financial year.

He added that  Ministry of Agriculture is transition to digital agriculture to enhance data utilisation and system integration, including the National Agriculture Management Information System with Land Information Management System (NAMIS) and Unified Beneficiary Registrar (UBR) to effectively categorize farmers for targeted interventions.

“Our efforts are concentrated on identifying productive farmers through the NAMIS census and allocating resources centrally, to ensure fair distribution for beneficiaries,” said Kawale.

Kawale said the ministry will also facilitate  organic fertilisers and new varieties to enhance soil health and crop production, with ongoing initiatives towards commercialisation for wider accessibility.

On Vulnerable households, Kawale disclosed that Government will support these households who include ; the elderly, chronically sick, and people with disabilities that may prevent them from engaging in farming activities.

He said these households are supported under the Social Cash Transfer Programme, which is managed by the Ministry of Gender, Community Development, and Social Welfare and that about 305,000 households are being supported with an estimated budget of K192 billion.

Kalindo, Mangochi advise Bakili Muluzi to side with Malawians

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Kalindo, Mangochi advise Bakili Muluzi to side with Malawians

By Vincent Gunde

Two activists Bon Kalindo and Lytone Mangochi have advised former President Dr. Bakili Muluzi to side with Malawians especially now that all are demanding Commission of Inquiry to investigate circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Dr. Saulos Chilima and eight others, in the Chikangawa forest in June this year.

Kalindo and Mangochi have told Dr. Muluzi that Malawians love him and will continue to respect him forever for championing democracy in the country from one-party state and dictatorship to multiparty democracy in 1994.

They have asked Dr. Muluzi never and ever championed democracy from where it is today to one-party state and dictatorship reminding him that Malawians of today are not the same as they were in 2020, side with Malawians for his legacy to continue to be respected.

Speaking through different audio clips circulating in various media platforms, Mangochi says it was not good for Dr. Bakili Muluzi stands at a podium accusing United Democratic Front (UDF) members that have taken a hand in blocking the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) from attending UDF Convention.

Mangochi has advised Dr. Muluzi said that if he is holding secret meetings with the MCP to take UDF members to support President Chakwera’s bouncing back into government in 2025 that is a waste of time and resources.

He has appealed to Dr. Bakili Muluzi takes his son, Atupele to the MCP and leaves UDF members alone saying UDF members whatever circumstances are sailing through, no one is ready to join the MCP which has been labelled the party of death and darkness.

“You better go alone with your son Atupele, UDF members will join Malawians in a quest of pushing President Chakwera to constitute the Commission of Inquiry to prove him and his MCP not guilty to have taken a hand in the killing of Dr. Chilima and eight others,” says Mangochi.

On his part, Kalindo has advised the UDF not to make a mistake of making a political alliance with the MCP saying do so will make the party end like curtains on the wall assuring Dr. Muluzi and Atupele said that their speeches at the Convention were questionable that one leg is with the MCP.

Kalindo says the UDF has a good history of democracy In Malawi saying its duty is to safeguard the hard-won democracy assuring it that nobody in Malawi will erase UDF history, the party is supposed to walk, and speak of what Malawians are wanting to do.

“Crocodiles have no democracy, they are wild animals, if you want the UDF history of you and Atupele to be erased in the country’s political history, join the MCP, the UDF which is being seen today, tomorrow won’t be there,” he says.

Malawi’s rise: How International partnerships are driving growth

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Malawi’s rise: How International partnerships are driving growth

By Twink Jones Gadama

As Malawi continues on its path towards realizing Agenda 2063, it’s essential to acknowledge the transformative projects that have made a lasting impact on its citizens.

These initiatives showcases genuine progress and development.

The Shire Valley Transformation Program, launched in 2018, has provided sustainable irrigation to improve farmers’ livelihoods, thanks to support from the World Bank and African Development Bank (AfDB).

Similarly, the Nkhatabay Water Supply Project and Blantyre Water Project, both initiated in 2019, have upgraded water infrastructure in their respective regions, funded by Exim Bank of India, the Government of Malawi, World Bank, and OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID).

Other notable projects include the _Bwanje Valley Irrigation Scheme_, _Mpatamanga Hydropower Project_, _Jenda-Edingeni Road Construction_, and _Lilongwe City Water Supply Project_.

These initiatives have enhanced agricultural productivity, electricity generation, economic activity, and urban mobility.

In the education sector, ongoing upgrades in secondary and higher education institutions have been supported by the World Bank, the Government of Malawi, and UN agencies since 2017.

The _Health Sector Improvements_, funded by the Global Fund, World Bank, and FCDO, have modernized hospitals and constructed cancer centers.

The _Rural Electrification Program_ and _Likoma Jetty Construction_ have expanded electricity access and improved transportation in rural areas.

Additionally, projects like _Lilongwe City Expansion Roads_, _Old Town Road Expansion & Lilongwe Bridge Expansion_, _Nacala Railway Corridor_, and _Mozambique-Malawi Power Interconnection_ have enhanced transport links, trade routes, and regional connectivity.

However, amidst these developments, criticism of the current administration’s handling of public funds and resource allocation has grown.

The delayed disbursement of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and President Chakwera’s international travels have raised concerns about government priorities.

Markfary, a participant on the Politics and Elections platform, expressed frustration with the MCP’s failures, highlighting the gap between government promises and reality.

“The CDF is supposed to be released every three months, but now it has been seven months, and it only came once,” he noted.

As Malawi inches towards realizing Agenda 2063, citizens are eager for effective leadership to drive development.

The MCP’s response to these criticisms and its ability to prioritize the needs of its people will be crucial in determining its future success.

Malawi’s transformative projects demonstrate the country’s potential for growth and development. As the nation looks to the future, it’s essential to recognize the progress made and build upon these successes to drive sustainable growth and development.

World Vision donates sawing machines to youth, training centre in Dowa

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World Vision donates sawing machines to youth, training centre in Dowa

By Kondwani Kandiado

World Vision Malawi has donated 45 sawing machines to youth in the Lipiri area program in Dowa who had completed a six months training in tailoring under the organisation initiative.

The organisation has also  donated 15 sewing machines to the Technical  Vocational Education and Training centre in the area to be used in training the youth as the organisation phases out in the area. All the sewing machines are valued at K22 Million with financial support from World Vision New Zealand.



Speaking in an interview on Monday after the handover, the organisation’s programmes manager for Dowa, Arnold Tsalayekha said the gesture is in line with government policy in empowering the youth economically.

“We thought we could contribute to that by ensuring that youths in the area are supported by training them in different vocational skills,” said the Tsalayekha.

“We would like to ensure that youths are productive and economically empowered so that they can desist from engaging in activities that may not be productive in their daily lives.”

Chairperson of the Lipiri Area Develoment Committee, Friday Chilonga said in an interview that they will ensure that the sawing machines are used for the intended purpose.

“We had agreed as a committee that those to get the sawing machines will sign a Memorandum of Understanding to ensure that the machines  serve the intended beneficiaries,” he said.

He thanked the organisation saying the donation will help improve the lives of the people especially the youths in their areas.

One of the beneficiaries, Winnie Custom of Yohane village in the area of Traditional Authority Kayembe in Dowa said she was excited that she now owns a  sewing machine.

“I used to rent a sewing machine and now that I have my own I will be able to use the money for renting for some other important things at home,” she said.

She then thanked the organisation for the gesture saying it should extend the initiative to people in other areas as well to improve their living standards.

Previously the organisation supported the training centre with 26 sawing machines to be used in trading the youth in the area.

Since its  inception 18 years ago, the organisation has helped improve access to safe water, school infrastructure and also improve on economic wellbeing of the people especially the youth.

Pic: Tsalayekha (L) handing over the machines to the youth.

Malawi’s role at the Global Ocean Conference: What It means for us

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Malawi’s role at the Global Ocean Conference: What It means for us

By Andrew Magombo

Malawi’s Vice President, Dr. Michael Usi, has traveled to Tangier, Morocco to attend an important international meeting on ocean conservation.

Representing President Lazarus Chakwera, Dr. Usi will be part of discussions aimed at protecting the world’s oceans a key part of tackling climate change globally.

Usi leaving for Morocco

While Malawi is a landlocked country, the effects of climate change, which are closely tied to the health of oceans, impact us directly.

From unpredictable weather patterns affecting agriculture to droughts and water shortages, what happens to the oceans matters to Malawi’s everyday life.

This conference gives Malawi a chance to learn new ways to deal with these issues while also pushing for global decisions that benefit countries like ours.

Beyond the conference, Dr. Usi will engage with Moroccan officials to strengthen ties between Malawi and Morocco.

These talks could open doors for partnerships in areas such as agriculture, tourism, and trade, which would bring opportunities for Malawians.

After Morocco, the Vice President will head to Azerbaijan for another climate meeting that runs from October 10th to 12th.

This event is a lead-up to next year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference, where Malawi will continue to push for support in tackling climate challenges.

Dr. Usi’s participation is crucial in securing resources and solutions that will help our country adapt to climate change and build a more resilient economy.

The Vice President is expected to return to Malawi on October 14th, 2024.

His participation in these global talks ensures that Malawi’s voice is heard on issues that impact our environment and, ultimately, our people.

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