Kasungu Councillors Concerned Over Long Distances To Access AIP Services
Some councilors in Kasungu district are concerned that people have to travel long distances to access affordable agriculture inputs because services are concentrated in urban areas such as trade centres.
Councilor Robert Dhovu of Mpeni ward told us yesterday that in some cases, beneficiaries have to foot 30 kilometers only to spend nights on end to access the inputs. He observed that this is not only dehumanizing but also unsafe.
Commenting on the concerns, Director of Agriculture and Environment, Peterson Kandoje, says the Kasungu district council has summoned traders to a meeting to roll out to Extension Planning Areas for easier access by beneficiaries.
Meanwhile; a union of technicians in the agriculture sector in Malawi says challenges dogging the on-going Affordable Input Program are largely due to the engagement of non-professionals in the registration process.
Agriculture expert Tamani Nkhono Mvula has described the development as unfortunate, saying issues of ghost villages and bloated names could not have happened if government used professionals.
Secretary-general for the Union, Isaac Kwisongole, says government ignored the professional organization and instead relied on chiefs, Village Development and Area Development Committees hence the hiccups.
