LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has criticized the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) for planning to auction farm inputs worth over K15 billion, saying the move would not benefit the underserved Malawians the organization was meant to serve.
PAC Chairperson Steve Malondera expressed concern that the auction process could be prone to abuse and suggested that the intended beneficiaries should access the inputs through loans instead.
“Auctions tend to favor only a few individuals, and it’s not the best method for selling inputs that were procured at commercial prices,” Malondera said. “NEEF departed from its core business because they were only supposed to lend money, not engage in the basement of inputs.”
Malondera added that the committee has summoned NEEF, Treasury, and public procurement officials to explain why they opted for auctioning the inputs.
NEEF CEO Kayisi Sadala warned that delaying the disposal of the inputs would lead to further losses, saying the real value of the inputs is K16.9 billion, but depreciation has reduced it to K15 billion.
Sadala said about MK1.9 billion worth of inputs, especially seeds, have already been damaged, and the organization is calling for bids from interested individuals to purchase the inputs.
The items up for sale include assorted maize, bean seeds, chemical and liquid fertilizers, solar water pumps, irrigation systems, and sprayers.
NEEF has disbursed MK62 billion in micro irrigation and livestock loans, reaching 123,279 farmers and distributing 253,793 bags of fertilizer, 21,125 goats, and 36,740 chickens.
