FUM PRESIDENT CONCERNED WITH FERTILIZER PRICES HIKE

The Farmers Union of Malawi (Fum) president Frighton Njolomole has expressed concern with the increase of fertilizer prices in the country.

Njolomole raised the concerns following the recent surge in fertilizer prices to K40,000 from K23,000 which is almost double the price which non-subsidized farmers used to buy during the last season.

Speaking in an interview with Malawi News Agency on Wednesday, Njolomole said that the increase will greatly affect farmers in the country as the prices have gone high dramatically whilst people are not prepared for such huge changes.

‘‘People are not prepared for K40,000 or k36,000 per bag, not all farmers can afford this, even the large scale farmers are not happy with the fertilizer hike,’’ said Njolomole.

He further explained that the increase in fertilizer prices will not only affect farmers but also the country at large as the country relies much on agricultural products.

‘If people fail to buy fertilizer it will affect the yields of that particular year which will result in hunger.

‘’we wouldn’t have been speaking much to the media if it wasn’t going to affect us that much, so it’s better we start speaking now before farmers start buying fertilizers,’’ Njolomole explained.

He, therefore, encouraged farmers not to get worried about what they heard from the parliamentary committee, as they are assured that the government is doing something to get a positive outcome out of all this.

‘I am urging farmers to continue working on their fields and start making their own manure if they can afford it, this must not affect you or give you sleepless nights’, Said Njolomole.

Meanwhile, State House Director of Communication Sean Kampondeni acknowledged the rise in prices is a result of some forces affecting fertilizer production at the global level.

Kampondeni stressed that the government is planning to engage fertilizer manufactures to try and ensure that the commodity’s prices will remain affordable for ordinary people.

Yesterday, the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Food Security met Fertiliser Association of Malawi to find ways on how to cushion Malawians at the time fertilizer prices are rising.