JEROME CHIM’GONDA-NKHOMA, MINSTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY, MALAWI

 INTRODUCTION  BACKGROUND OF FARM INPUT SUBSDIES IN MALAWI  IMPLEMENTATION MODALITIES  PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION EXPERIENCES.  CHALLENGES  CONCLUSION

GOM implementing a FISP for a fifth year running since 2004/05 agricultural season Goal: To achieve food security at household and national level. Objective: To increase smallholder farmers’ access to improved farm inputs for increased agricultural productivity.

 High input prices-low uptake of improved inputs by farmers in Malawi.  Declining maize productivity in the country -maize is the staple food in the country  Chronic food insecurity in the country prior to 2004/o5 agricultural season.  Govt introduced Farm Inputs Subsidy Programme (FISP) for selected inputs with maize as the main crop, tobacco, cotton, legumes

1. Use of local resources-finances 2. Planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation  Use of Local Structures (Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and Ministry of Local Government Structures, community based structures  Private sector involvement(Transportation, sale of inputs)  Civil society involvement  Cooperating partner involvement

3.Beneficiary Identification based on criteria(Registration done by local people themselves) 4. Use of voucher system to identify selected beneficiaries. 5.Use of vouchers to purchase subsidised inputs

PROGRAMME ACHIEVEMENTS

ACHIVEMENTS, OUTCOMES AND IMPACT  Increased production of crops under the programme (maize, tobacco, cotton, legumes)  Increase in number of farmers using improved farm inputs more than (55%).  Increase in adoption of crop production, storage technologies by smallholder farmers  Low food prices –inflation.  Increase in growth of the agricultural sector (6%)- economic development.

SUCCESS FACTORS Political will (acceptance of the food insecurity problem and visionary leadership) Political commitment (budgetary support-focus on national budget) Public Private Partnerships (constant engagement of the private sector by the government)

 Farm Inputs Subsidy Programme has contributed towards the achievement of household and national food security in Malawi. This has in turn impacted on economic and social development positively.  It has also contributed to poverty reduction in the country-as most of the households are hunger free in the country.

 Limited supplies of inputs by some institutions to some places due to warehousing problems.  Poor road network in some places affects delivery of farm inputs negatively.

 Thank you for your attention