State owned National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) has partnered with the Smallholder Farmers Fertilizer Revolving Fund (SFFRFM) to speed up the distribution of fertilizer to farmers across the country.
The initiative aims to support farmers who have been granted the ‘Farm input’ loan, disbursed by NEEF.
NEEF Credit Manager, Whytone Mweta has indicated that the partnership will facilitate the timely distribution of farm inputs to loan beneficiaries.
“Farmers will also have the option to receive their inputs right at their doorstep or get their normal loan via bank transaction,” he said.
Mweta said the arrangement will not only also save farmers time, but also provide them with access to affordable fertilizer, which is in high demand.
“At the end of the day, it is our wish as NEEF to see loan beneficiaries benefit from the loan,” he said.
The impact of the arrangement is already being felt in the southern region of the country where farmers who have benefited from the initiative are singing praises.
Forstino Nihorya from Phalombe district, who applied for a K10 million loan which is equivalent to roughly 65 bags of fertilizer, has hailed the initiative.
“By streamlining the distribution process and making fertilizer more accessible, NEEF and SFFRFM are empowering farmers like us, boosting our productivity in the process,” he said.
Lilongwe-based agricultural expert Feston Mileza has hailed NEEF for coming up with the initiative, saying it has the potential to boost food security.
“As the nation strives to deal with perennial food insecurity challenges, initiatives like this one are a beacon of hope,” he said.
