Government has disclosed that it will introduce electronic Farm Input Subsidy Programme (Fisp) coupons during the 2020/2021 financial year to curb fraud.

Making the announcement in his State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Peter Mutharika added that government will also increase local small and medium enterprise (SMEs) participation in the programme.

Mutharika also said government allocated K9.2 billion in the current financial year to procure about 46,000 metric tonnes of maize.

He said purchase of this grain has already started though Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc).

Mutharika added that government has also engaged ADMARC and National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) as well as private institutions to build the country’s strategic grain reserve stocks to more than 217,000 metric tonnes.

He also disclosed that through the 2020/2021 national budget, government will construct 15 smallholder solar powered irrigation schemes totaling 220 hectares in the Southern and Central regions under Malawi Drought Recovery and Resilience Project (MDRRP).