Farm Input Loan to take off #malawi

President Dr. Joyce Banda will on Friday,
November 8 launch the Farm Input Loan
Programme (FILP) at Chilipa, Mangochi which is
expected to run alongside the 2013 K61 billion
budgeted Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP).
Delivering the 2012 /13 State of the Nation Address
at the New Parliament Building in Lilongwe,
President Banda said Government would
establish the special loan scheme for farm inputs
that would be under the Public Private
Partnership Programme (PPP) offering loan
facilities for inputs to farmers to increase crop
production.
"It is my hope, Mr. Speaker, Sir, that this
programme will scale up production of maize
and other crops, and enhance the country's food
security, household incomes and export
earnings. "Mr. Speaker, Sir, this programme will
run side by side with the Farm Input Subsidy
Programme (FISP)," President Banda told the
Malawi National assembly adding that under the
PPP scheme the private sector will offer loan
facilities to farmers.
Speaking when she elevated Senior Chief Mlumbe
of Zomba and Chiwalo of Phalombe the president
asked farmers to organize themselves into
groups in readiness for the loan scheme which
she observed will ease the pressure on FISP
where some people are left out due to limited
registration numbers. "Some deserving and
qualifying farmers are left out of FISP but for us
to improve and enhance the production of maize
and other crops, we need this programme in
place so that we enhance the country's food
security, household incomes and export
earnings," said president Banda.
At the inauguration, the Malawi leader is expected
to announce the amount that has been invested
into the programme, how many farmers the
programme is targeting and how it will be carried
out.