Almost three decades after founding President Kamuzu Banda last held national crop inspection tours, Malawians will once again evoke memories of old times this week when President Lazarus Chakwera visits the Southern and Eastern regions to inspect crops and engage local farmers.
On Monday the President will be in Thyolo District in Traditional Authorities Nanseta and Mchiramwera where he is expected to kickstart his national tour.
Later in the week the President will visit Zomba and Mangochi for a similar exercise.
President Chakwera will also use the touts to address development rallies to engage communities in critical issues affecting livelihoods right now.
The crop inspection tours will also give the President a chance to appreciate and get first hand feedback on the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) which is in its second season.
The K160 billion AIP was one of the flagship policies that Chakwera’s administration introduced soon after taking office. On average 4.2 million households have been buying two 50kg fertilizer bags and seed of choice between maize, sorghum or rice.
Right from the word go, AIP produced wonders with Malawi producing a maize yield of 4.4 million metric tonnes, 1.1 million tonnes of which was surplus.
Additionally, from this year farmers in areas disaster laden areas like Chikwawa and Nsanje are getting livestock in form of goats.