Farmers in the country have asked government to come out and disclose this year’s fertilizer prices including the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP).

The call follows rise in fertilizer prices across the globe perpetrated by the Russia-Ukraine war.

Speaking to YFM, Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM) President Frighton Njolomole said much as government has no control over the skyrocketing prices, there is need to inform farmers what this year’s fertilizer prices.

Worried Njolomole: “And it’s true that the availability of fertilizer where our dealers buy from it’s going to be very tricky and very difficult.

It’s not only Malawi, it’s actually affecting almost each and every country but it’s now up to government to advise and advise Fertilizer Association of Malawi what they should follow because if government stays quiet, farmers are going to be vulnerable.”

Njolomole said timely disclosure of the prices will assist farmers to prepare in time too.

“In fact this is going to be a very tricky year because each and every agro-dealer or Fertilizer Association of Malawi they are actually coming up with different prices of fertilizer, this is not going to assist us all.

I think it’s high time that government should come in advise adequately, we know things are not good, we know it,” said the FUM President.

Authorities from the responsible Ministry of Agriculture were not immediately available to comment on the prices.

During last year’s farming season, the Ministry gave contract to 164 private companies to sell their fertilizer to beneficiaries at an approved price of K27,000 per bag of which Government paid K19,500 and a beneficiary pays K7,500.