FISP Allocation Increased By K3.5 Billion

Government has increased budgetary allocation to the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP) with K3.5 billion raising the figure from initial K31. 4 billion to K34.9 billion.

Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development informed the Committee of Supply that the increment has been made following increase in the market price of fertilizer commodity.

"After looking at the cost of FISP we have revised the vote to K3.5 billion because our estimates on prices of fertilizer has changed. Therefore the cost of fertilizer is likely to be higher than we previously anticipated" he said 

Also indicated "Donors have also committed to support the programme with US$5 Million for the purchase of seeds" 

Now the figure for the Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development vote increased to a tune of K199, 712, 746, 313 from around K198 billion.

This has further increased the budget from K1.136 Trillion to K1. 140 billion.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture allocation vote has been passed after almost two hours of debate over the vote as legislators were fighting for increment in order for the ministry to allocate more funds for the borehole drilling in their constituencies.

However, Minister of Finance and Minister of Agriculture, George Chaponda both informed the House that Government has allocated half billion Kwacha which will be distributed among local authority councils.

Dedza South West Legislator, Clement Mlombwa said the allocation of half a billion will only drill 116 boreholes which means some constituencies will not get even a single boreholes.

Then Kasungu East Hon. Madalitso Fred Kazombo urged all members to rally behind him in calling for the increased allocation for the boreholes. He particularly pleaded with female legislators in the House to support the increment of the agriculture vote for each member to get boreholes.

"Women are the most group suffering right now because they walk long distances to get water. We need the vote increased so that each constituency should get 10 boreholes to lessen the burden of fetching water by our women and girls." He said

In his response Goodall Gondwe said district councils will have responsibility to decide on where the boreholes are needed since the needs of each constituencies are not equal.

"Because if we say each constituency for example, should have 100 boreholes you are assuming that each constituency needs 100 or that the needs are equal. And for that decisions to be made in Lilongwe is not very easy and we therefore think that we leave the decision as to how many boreholes should go to constituency to the District Councils which will discuss and decide which constituency require what and probably if it would be found that the money is not enough they will let us know and we will see what can be done if that would be the case." He said 

The vote also saw Rumphi East legislator exchanging words with Leader of House and Minister of Agriculture, George Chaponda. 

Chaponda labelled Kamlepo "regionalistic" person for saying treadle pump distribution by Government have this year favored districts from Southern Region.

However, Chaponda clarified that the Southern region districts will get a bit more of treadle pumps because most of area in the region were badly affected by droughts and floods and therefore there is need to intensify irrigation farming in most districts in the region.

"I would also like to inform the member that there are more irrigation activities taking place in northern region like in Karonga" said Chaponda 

Among others, at the very beginning the House also passed Ministry of sports vote which also saw legislators demanding for increment.

However, Ministry of Sports and Culture told the House that the vote which has been allocated with K2. 097 billion has actually got an increment this year and there was no need to seek for more funding to the ministry.

"This year our budget has been increased. Last year we got K7 billion but out of this figure, K6 billion went to the construction of Bingu Stadium and the actual funding to the Ministry was only K1 billion. Now we are happy that this year we got K2 billion." Said the Sports  Minister 

She however, informed members who still insisted to allocate more money to the Ministry that allocation for youth programs is adequate for this 2016/17 financial year for the youth as several ministries have been allocated with money for the issues of youth.