The Ministry of Agriculture,
Irrigation and Water Development has today launched the 2026/27 Farm Inputs
Subsidy Programme, FISP, at Kalira 1 Primary School ground in Traditional
Authority Vuso Jere in Ntchisi district.
This year's FISP targets
1,221,862 resource-constrained smallholder maize farmers across the country,
with reforms aimed at strengthening efficiency, transparency, accountability,
farmer ownership and sustainability.
Minister of Agriculture Roza
Fatch Mbilizi says farmer organisations will be used as the primary channel for
beneficiary identification and input distribution, while calling on their
leaders to ensure the process is fair and transparent.
The programme will also
emphasize soil health and sustainable soil fertility management, including
production of Mbeya organic fertilizer and other sustainable land management
practices.
Mbilizi says timely access to
inputs is important for farmers to make effective use of rainfall during the
2026/27 farming season, particularly in areas such as Ntchisi where rains tend
to start relatively early.
Min. Mbilizi speaking during the launch
“As we face the impending threat of a mega
El Niño, this nation must proactively build resilience against any potential
adverse impacts. Implementing Mbeya production and integrated soil management
practices directly responds to these climate and economic threats, ensuring our
agricultural foundation remains robust and sustainable,” added Mbirizi.
Meanwhile, agriculture expert
Tamani Nkhano Mvula has commended government for launching the programme,
describing the timing as good ahead of the farming season.
Mvula has, however, asked government to ensure
that farm inputs are available before the planting season
