Principal secretary for the Ministry Dickxie Kampani has however told Zodiak Online that the contribution will depend on the commodity prices and what is available for the government to contribute.

“The farmer contribution for both fertilizer and goats under this year’s AIP will be released soon but will depend on what is available for the government to contribute and also prices of the commodity,” he said.

When asked on the list of beneficiaries, Kampani says the processes for the same have been completed so far and will be released any time soon as well.

Meanwhile, Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM) President Manes Nkhata says the government conduct is putting farmers in a difficult position to plan for the season.

“If the trend continues, it will push millions of farming households into food security,” she said adding that the authorities are failing to leave their promises of implementing the initiative early.

Nkhata has since urged the authorities to timely release the beneficiary list besides farmer contribution to help farmers plan for the season.

During the 2022/23 AIP, beneficiaries were procuring a 50 kilogram bag of fertilizer at K15,000 while a 5kg packet of seed was at K5, 000.