FISP Farmer Contribution Total Cost Increased to K8,500

If you are Malawian smallholder farmer waiting to buy cheap fertilizer and seeds from the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP) please adjust your budget. 

Malawian smallholder farmer should expect to deep more in the pocket as their cost of contribution towards the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP) has gone up by 600% per each bag of fertilizer.

Previous years, each 50kg bag of fertilizer for FISP was costing K500, now Government has decided to put each bag of fertilizer at K3500 translating a total cost of K7000 (seven thousand kwacha) for Urea and NPK fertilizer bags.

That is not all, as 5kg packet of maize Seed will cost K1000 and for a packet of legume seed farmers will contribute K500.  

Now, FISP beneficiaries should be spending K8,500 for the programme.

Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Hon. Allan Chiyembekeza announced the changes at Capital Hill in Lilongwe saying this follows reforms that government has taken in response to calls.

“This year, the programme beneficiaries will be contributing quite substantial amount of money” he said before announcing the new costs

“We as Government have been pushed left and right because everybody continued to say that we are spending too much money on the Farm Input Subsidy at the expense of other Government programmes which we understood and to some extent agreed” said Chiyembekeza.

He said; “So there was need for some kind of reforms in the Farm Input Subsidy Programme.” 

Justifying the adjustments Chiyembekeza said “All this has been done in response to the outcry because this is what many people wanted including donors that at least we would want to make contribution of the farmer to be seen to be reasonable so that at least they can also feel that they are part of the programme” 

Previous years, a farmer was contributing K500 (five hundred kwacha) for each fertilizer bag and it costs them K1000 (one thousand kwacha) for two bags. And for seed maize, it was K150 while legume seeds were given out for free because there was support from development partners on seed part. However this year the Minister revealed that “We still haven’t been assured whether there is going to be that support”

The Agriculture Minister also indicated that as part of reforms in the programme, the private sector will be involved in the supply, distribution and direct retail of some of the fertilizer earmarked for seven selected districts as pilot.

“We are doing this as a pilot because we don’t know whether it will work as people anticipate. So we don’t want to put all our eggs in one basket. If this proves to be more cost effective and more efficient than the system we have always used, definitely future farm input subsidy programmes will be used through this system” he said

But Chiyembekeza clarified that the remainder of the districts will follow the same old system where Smallholder Farmers Fertiliser Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) and ADMARK will be markets for the FISP fertilizer.

He also hinted that procurement of fertilizer will be done by SFFRFM but evaluation for the bids of fertilizer which opened on 31st July 2015 will either be completed end of this week or early next week.

Honorable Chiyembekeza indicated that bids for transport will be done this Friday 7th August 2015. 

However,  the Minister said beneficiary identification will be done in due course by special identification system. 

He said,  government has registered already all farmers across the country that grow maize with land holding capacity of 5 hectares maximum. He said the 1. 5 million beneficiaries will be devided by the total number of maize farmers then the given percentage is going to be applied to all villages.  He added from such system chiefs will not identify the beneficiarys and that those that will benefit this year will be removed from the system to pave way for other farmers. He said this system will remove issues of favouritism during identification of beneficiaries. 

FISP will clock 11 years since its implementation, with an aim of achieving food self sufficiency and increased income of resource poor farmers through increased maize and legume production.

The 2015/2016 budget allocated K41.5 billion for the programme targeting 1.5 million beneficiaries. From the budget, Government will procure and subsidize 150 thousand metric tonnes of fertilizer where; 75 thousand metric tonnes will be for NPK fertilizer and another 75 thousand metric tonnes of fertiliser will be for Urea.

Speed Climate Policy Enactment Urge Catholic Church

His Grace Thomas Msusa 

Catholic Church in Malawi has emphasided the importance of enactment of all legislations that may support in mitigating the continued effects of climate change. 

Malawi has this year experienced worst climate change effects following erratic rainfall and floods in most parts of the country. 

The Bishop Chairman for the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) His Grace, Thomas Msusa has asked Malawi Government to speed up the process of enacting all policies that addresses the climate change mitigation.

Msusa was speaking at on Tuesday night in the Capital city, Lilongwe during the launch of Pope Francis Encyclical 'Laudato Si' which calls the world to protect and preserve the environment.

"Surely in Malawi we are affected seriously about climate change." Said Msusa Arch Bishop of Blantyre Arch Diocese then gave an example of recent adverse floods and drought which hit most parts of the country as a vivid sign that climate issues needs serious attention.

"So we would like to see government which is concerned with the welfare of poor people to speed enactment of climate policy" urged Msusa

"We are agro-based economy." He said, "We would like to invite political leaders, government and religious leaders and everyone to have an advocacy on these policies that government should speed up enactment of Agriculture policy and Climate policy" adding that this will help people to have proper direction on taking care of environment

Hon Bright Msaka 

Responding to the call, Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Hon. Bright Msaka who was at the launch a guest of honor said Government is "making huge progress" on process of enactment of legislations that are deals with climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Msaka said; "We are leaving nothing undone to ensure that we address the effects of climate change, mitigate and adapt"  

He explained "There are many pieces of legislation that are already addressing the issue of environment. We have Forest Act which is in existence and that is going to be amended shortly, we have Forest Policy that is under process now and is before cabinet and it was last week discussed by the Cabinet Committee responsible of these matters and was passed.

"Similarly the Climate Change Management Policy was discussed by the Committee of Cabinet and the Committee referred the document to Cabinet."

He then assured "Passage of Climate Change Policy by Cabinet will be in matter of weeks when cabinet meets and discuss on it. Be assured that Climate Change Policy and Agriculture Policy are to be enacted soon and we are making huge progress on this".

Standard Bank Conducts ‘Be Your Own Bank-Transact & Win’ Promotion First Draw

Standard Bank Be your own bank 1st Draw 

Lucky Current Account customers for Standard Bank begins to receive prizes for the 'Be Your Own Bank-Transact & Win' Promotion as the Bank conducts the first fortnight draw of the promotion.

Standard Bank officials conducting the draw

The first draw conducted on Tuesday, saw customer, Fiona Kalemba winning prize of the day, Samsung Galaxy S6. 15 customers won T-shirts, another 15 won caps while 5 won flash discs.

The promotion launched two weeks ago aims at promoting internet banking usage in Malawi for greater customer convenience and security.

Charity Mughogho

Charity Mughogho, Head of Personal Markets for the bank says the bank has registered huge positive response as it received more than 400 registered new users within the first two weeks of the promotion.

She said customers are getting comfortable using the self-service channel 'internet banking' as the bank experienced "a commensurate increase" in internet banking transactions during the same period. 

"The response in the first two weeks is encouraging and prospects are high that more people will come forward to join us in this new era of digital and paperless banking" said Mughogho

Charity Mughogho

"We would like to reiterate the fact that our internet banking platform offers great convenience and security to our customer hence our drive to encourage of the platform.

"Gone are the days when customers always had to walk to the bank or talk to a banker in order to transact. With internet banking transactions can be performed from literally anywhere and it is important that our customers become more comfortable using platforms to transact." Explained Mughogho

Existing Standard Bank Current Account customers need to register for internet Banking while potential ones should open a Current Account complete with the Internet Banking service option. 

With a minimum of four transactions every two weeks using internet banking, one stands a chance to win the six fortnight's promotion prizes that include a Samsung Galaxy S6, flash discs, caps and T-shirts.

Grand prize money is K1 million and K500 thousand for runner-up and third placed winner will walk away home with a DSTV Explorer plus a month's Premium subscription which will be given at the end of promotion in October.

Man, 33, In Police Custody For Defiling Four Girls in a Row

A man aged 33 is in Kasungu Police custody for allegedly defiling four young girls in a row. 

According to Kasungu Police Public Relations Officer Inspector Edwin Kaunda, the man identified as Mpembanji Chisale defiled four young girls of the age ranging from 8 year old to 10 year old. 

Kaunda said, the suspect who works as a tenant at a certain farm, is alleged to have taken some few bottles of beer at Kachere village, later enticed four young girls to have sex with him.

"He took the girls to one of the house and defiled them one after the other." Said Inspector Kaunda 

Inspector Kaunda said the girls revealed to their parents of what had happened to them and without hesitation they rushed to Kasungu Police. 

Kaunda said the suspect, Mpembanji will appear in court soon to answer four charges of

defilement.

Mpembanji comes from Kachere village of TA Mwase in Kasungu.

Cashgate Convict Savala Cry in Court, Speaks Out on K84 Million Looting

• Savala named Leonard Kalonga as accomplice

• She cried in court and said “I have brought shame to my parents”

The Cashgate case hearing of Caroline Savala on Friday was full of emotions, for apparent looming sentencing.

Savala answering charges of theft amd was convicted after full trial on money laundering amounting to K84 million, cried during court sitting at Lilongwe High court on Friday before Justice Fiona Mwale and for the very first time made recounts of her deal with Leonard Kalonga, former Tourism ministry officer also answering another cashgate case.

The Illicit deal with Leonard Kalonga

When responding to questions from State Counsel, Kamudoni Nyasulu, on how she became to know Leonard Kalonga and Florence Chatuwa, Caroline Savala explained almost everything.

In a tell it all, Savala said registered her Carmu Civil Engineering Company in 2011 under National Construction Industry Council but never had offered service elsewhere.

Savala said, was introduced to Leonard Karonga in June 2013 by her former Bambino Secondary School classmate, Florence Chatuwa a supplier of fire extinguishers. 

She said, Kalonga, asked her to borrow him copies of her company certificates because he “wanted to use the documents to do a construction work for the government” 

Savala explained that she was convinced by Leonard Kalonga justification that as a civil servant he could not use his own construction company certificates to offer service to government. She added that she never had any suspicions that they were making an illicit deal.

Savala continued that, in July 2013 her company account received a Cheque amounting to K35 million and a week later got K49 million. 

She said in all two separate occasions; Savala would withdrawal the deposited money and deliver in full amount to Kalonga at his house. But from the deal, Savala said was getting 10% only for each deposit money and was sharing that money with Florence.

She said she never doubt about anything or grew fishy about the payments sent to her company account.

Savala also told the court that even before and after her arrest, she has been earning a living through lipstic seling business. 

Impact of Cashgate to Savala family 

Caroline Savala being consoled by family members

Earlier, when asked by her lawyer Raphael Kasambara how the case has impacted her life, the emotional Savala said “I have suffered anxiety and I’m just Sorry that I took part in this unknowingly.”

“I have brought shame to my parents” she said “It has got so much shame to my parents and family. I have put them in shame.”

Caroline Savala’s mom and dad sitting a foot away from each other could be seen with tears flowing from their eyes as they try keep listen to their daughter. His father seemed to have difficulty to keep eyes on his daughter for long; he spent a lot of time at the hearing with his head down.

“I have dented my image. I can’t work anywhere because am all over the internet that I was involved in looting of public money.”

She then spoke of her health which made her cry; “My health has deteriorated, I have a copy of my medical report”. Savala said it recommends that she need to live in a very good environment. 

“Away from opportunistic infections…” said Savala then sobbed, followed by loud mourns forcing the Jutice Mwale to suspend proceedings for five minutes since she could not be audible when she was reading last part of the report. 

Savala explained to State Counsel that she obtained this medical report from Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) on 24th July 2014 when she visited the hospital as patient.

“I never suspected that it could be looting of public funds with the senior position Mr. Kalonga had” she said after the court convened after the short break

Savala: Cashgate has embarrassed her and family

“I am very sorry. If I had known that it was looting, I could not have accepted that my company should be used because am not a person” who tolerates anything like that, she aid.

“I’m a Christian and never had involved in such practice” she added and said she is a first time offender

Savala was convicted after full trial but in previous court appearances pleaded not guilty but surprised people that this Friday acknowledged her participation in the looting but emphasized “unknowingly”

Airtel Malawi Launch Tisanje Promotion

Airtel Malawi has unveiled new promotion dubbed "Tisanje" where three grand winners will each walk away with Mk5 million translating to K15 million.

Airtel Malawi Country Director, Francis Matseketsa said the Tisanje promotion is aimed at bonding customers with the brand, increase recharges and add extra value to Airtel Money transactions.

Francis Matseketsa

He said to qualify and stand a chance to win, Customers that recharge their mobile account with K50 and above using Scratch-cards, Zachangu or Airtel Money will enter into the promotion by earning points for the draws.

On monthly basis, 56 lucky customers, that is 2 people from each district will win K100 thousand each. And 6 people will be winning K50 thousand on daily basis

“We would like to see our customers smiling all the way whilst enjoying Airtel service to the maximum.” Said Francis Matseketsa

“Tisanje as the name suggest is about reaping. All Airtel customers are bound to reap lucrative amounts of money every day, every month for as long as this promotions runs.”

Among other, Customer will be rewarded with Bonus minutes for recharges of K50 and above. Customers will also enter into weekly draw by sending or receiving money using Airtel Money. Short code 59999 and USSD code *599# will be communicated to the customers for checking points or unsubscribing from the promotion and all short codes are free of charge.

Tisanje Promition which starts this Friday,  ends on 25th October 2015.

Airtel Customers Can Top-Up Airtime From Across The Globe

Regardless of distance or location, Aitel Malawi customer can top-up airtime from anywhere across the globe.

Airtel Malawi through partnership with an international top-up company Ding, Ireland based, airtel subscribers will be able to top up their mobile phones or other phones of family and friends from every corner of the planet.

Imaan 

“The partnership complement our already established one network initiative which enables our subscribers to roam with the same number in all Airtel operating countries.” said Mr. Elias Imaan Airtel Malawi Sales Director when launching the service in Lilongwe.

“Topping up is not and should not be a night mare when you travel outside Malawi” he added

Airtel Customers need to log on to www.ding.com and download the application and will automatically get a borderless visa that will enable them top up their Airtel number. But more importantly one gets notification of the transaction through a text message as well as email message. 

The Airtel Malawi Sales Director also said apart from the internet platform, customers can top-up their phones or family and friends using recharge cards from all Ding retail outlets.

“As market leader, we shall keep coming up with wide range of innovative products and service that offer instant solutions that can be utilized locally and beyond” he assured

Ding is based in Dublin Ireland and is the World’s largest international mobile top-up provider that enables people anywhere in the world to top-up their mobile phone instantly. 

Among other attributes, Ding is directly connected to 350 mobile service operators in 30 countries with a global reach of 4 billion phones.

Speaking from a video call from Dublin, Marketing Officer for Ding, Odhran Ginnity downplayed fears of any interruptions saying the system is secure, fast and reliable.