LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Roza Mbilizi says this year’s Farm Inputs Subsidy Program (FISP) inputs consignment will be fully completed mid-December to meet beneficiaries’ needs.
Mbilizi was responding to The Maravi Post question during the news conference on Tuesday, December 2 on what exactly time will FISP inputs be available to beneficiaries.
The Minister disclosed that distribution of the inputs has reached 17 percent distribution to retail points nationwide while the redemption rate of the inputs stood at 12 percent as of yesterday.
Fisp is targeting 1.1 million beneficiaries and so far 131 184 have accessed the inputs.
Mbilizi added that government is working towards securing all 110 000 metric tonnes (MT) of fertiliser needed for the programme by mid-December.
She therefore explained that 37 818MT of fertiliser stocks are in warehouses locally while 10 949MT is in transit from Zambia and government is also procuring 62 000MT from private traders.
The Minister however exposed malpractices rocking FISP including some chiefs and civil servants adding themselves as beneficiaries contrary to the program agenda.
She disclosed that 3,800 civil servants included themselves as beneficiaries and warned them to stay clear of the programme or face the law.
“If you (civil servants) have not yet redeemed the fertiliser, make sure you don’t redeem. If there are others that have redeemed, they will face the law.
“We have the list and we know where you are based. The law will take its course and it wont spare those that listed the civil servants as beneficiaries,” warns Mbilizi.
She also disclosed that the ministry has also received reports of people buying national identity cards (IDs) from beneficiaries to access the cheap fertiliser.
“We have also received reports where some chiefs and sales clerks are demanding money for registration of beneficiaries and purchase of inputs.
“No Fisp beneficiary is required to pay any additional money on top of the MK10 000 contribution for a 50 kilogramme (kg) bag of fertiliser as set by government,” warned Mbilizi.
Echoing the same, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Ben Phiri, who accompanied Mbilizi during the briefing warned chiefs who will be found abusing FISP that they risk being relieved of their duties.
FISP rolled out on November 12 2025 and beneficiaries are accessing two 50 kg bags of fertilizer and one pack of five kg seed.
There are also farmers under a livestock component who are receiving five goats, notably four female and one male on a pass-on arrangement.
