Malawi Congress Party (MCP) parliamentary aspirant for Dedza South Constituency Ishmael Onani has assured constituents that the party will reduce price of fertiliser from the current price of about K22,000 to as low as K10,000 once the party wins the next month’s Tripartite elections.
Onani made the assurance on Sunday during a rally conducted at Kanyenda Primary School ground in the area of Traditional Authority Kasumbu in the district.
He said the MCP government will abolish the current Fertiliser Subsidy Program (Fisp) which has been described by several quarters to be an ineffective initiative.
He said the Lazarus Chakwera led government will reduce the price so that each and every farmer should have access to fertilizer at affordable prices.
“In our Manifesto there is Universal Subsidy program where it’s not about giving out coupons.
“With the MCP leadership we are still negotiating on what will be a good price but it will be lower than K20,000,” he said.
He then promised to revamp the transportation sector so that farmers in the Constituency should be able to transport their produce to various markets in the country.
“We are going to have a tarmac road from Dedza Boma to Kasumbu court, once I am elected as MP I will request that the tarmac should be extended further to Kanyenda which is about 15km so that people should have access to markets and nearest hospitals,” he said.
Reacting to the development, political commentator Wonderful Mkhutche said USP is possible in the country.
“Universal subsidy is possible. Agriculture takes much of our spending as a nation but we yield little from it. This is because there are no fiscal measures in place to make sure every spending counts. If this can be different, then yes, universal subsidy is possible,” he said.
He added: “Whatever program, as long as local farmers have access to farm inputs, it will be vital. Those who are advocating for universal subsidy are right just as those who are advocating for reforms in FISP. What matters is implementation that will bring about a difference to the local farmers,” he said.
MCP is among various political parties such as United Democratic Front (UDF) and UTM which are eyeing on abolishing Fisp once they are voted into power.
