Pressure keeps mounting on President Lazarus Chakwera’s administration to address the challenge of rising fertiliser prices on the local market owing to trends on the global scene.
The latest to implore the government to act on the state of affairs is chairperson of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, Bishop Thomas Msusa.
Reports that agro-dealers are now selling a 50 kilogramme bag of the critical farm input at K40,000 have sent shockwaves among farmers, many of whom are considering it as prohibitive.
Already, there are growing calls from various stakeholders including the civil society, particularly those in the agriculture sector; for the authorities to address the issue as a matter of urgency.
Speaking during the consecration of new Dedza Catholic Diocese Bishop Peter Chifukwa yesterday; Msusa stressed that high fertiliser prices will affect local crop production and food availability in the coming season.
The local Catholic Church’s head tipped President Chakwera that while the technicians will be revising the list of Affordable Inputs Programme – AIP beneficiaries; he should strategize on how best to address the high prices.
