K150 Billion NEEF boost draws women, youth to farming
Kunkuyu: We are returning to the days when Malawi was food-sufficient
Minister of Information and Digitalisation Moses Kunkuyu has highlighted the growing interest of women and youths in farming as a business, owing to easy access to agricultural inputs through the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF).
Speaking on Tuesday at Santhe Trading Centre in Kasungu District during the launch of fertiliser distribution under the NEEF Farm Input Loan Programme, Kunkuyu said the initiative aligns with the Agriculture Commercialisation pillar of Malawi 2063.
“We are returning to the days when Malawi was food-sufficient because people could access farm inputs. The President believes we can achieve that again. By distributing these inputs, we aim to boost production for both food security and exports to generate forex,” Kunkuyu said.
The government has allocated K150 billion to this year’s programme, a significant increase from K27 billion last year.
Kunkuyu noted that more women and youths are benefiting from the loans, raising hopes for increased maize production nationwide.
To recognize outstanding repayment, Kunkuyu awarded Senior Chief Santhe with K300,000 after the area achieved a 100% repayment rate on previous loans.
Senior Chief Santhe praised the programme, emphasizing its role in reducing reliance on social protection initiatives and creating self-sufficient households.
NEEF Board Chairperson Jephta Mtema urged farmers to maximize the benefits of the loans by focusing on productivity.
Kennedy Chizunda of Apatsa Maize Club, a recipient of the fertiliser, expressed gratitude for the programme but called for timely disbursement of inputs in future seasons.
With a national loan repayment average of 85%, the Santhe area stands out as a top-performing region, boasting a 100% repayment rate.
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