Farmers ‘selling’ inputs to Malawi - Minister
INVESTIGATIONS have established that farmers in Nakonde are selling subsidised farming inputs to institutions in Malawi, Muchinga Province Minister Malozo Sichone has disclosed.
Mr Sichone said the team comprising provincial administration officers and the police had established that farmers were selling fertiliser to institutions in the neighbouring country.
He said that the institutions involved would not be exposed to the public as it would jeorpardise the on-going investigations.
Mr Sichone said in an interview that he was disappointed to learn that farmers could sell subsidised farming inputs in a neighbouring country because this would have a negative impact to the national food security come next year.
However, he said all the loopholes which were used to illegally export the subsidised farming inputs had been sealed.
He said that, “After establishing the areas where farmers have been using to transport the farming inputs such as fertiliser we moved in to intensify security.
Mr Sichone said it was revealed that farmers were tempted to sell the farming inputs to Malawi because the buyers were offering a good price.
“This time around we have done all that we can to ensure that this illegality is stopped,” Mr Sichone said.
He however said investigations were still continuing to identify individual farmers and cooperatives involved.
Mr Sichone said the probe team want to ensure that all those involved were brought to book because what they were doing was a serious crime.