By Dalitso Kampira
Farmers in Thyolo District can now afford a smile with the coming in of the project "Rural Transformation for Natural Development (Rutland) through Rutrand Farmers Cooperative Limited which is expected to boost production with the introduction of "Chonde Fertilizer".
The project will assist farmers- Munthali PIC Dalitso Kampira
This was disclosed during District Executive Committee (DEC) meeting on Thursday where Rutrand Farmers Cooperative Limited was introducing the project to DEC members.
Rutrand Limited Chief Executive Officer, Harold Njewa, said the newly introduced organic fertilizer called Chonde fertilizer will boost crop yield because it is affordable to every farmers.
"We are here to introduce Chonde fertilizer which is very affordable to farmers. It is significant as will fill other gaps which the Affordable Input Programme (AIP) could not meet.
"We thought Government alone cannot afford to reach to every farmer and so with the coming in of this fertilizer, will lessen the burden which was already there," said Njerwa.
He further said farmers are going to benefit from this fertilizer because they will be buying at a lower price.
Njewa thanked Thyolo District Council for the approval of the project saying the capacity of meeting the demands of farmers is now high.
Thyolo District Director of Planning and Development (DPD), Thokozire Munthali said the project will sustain food security in the district.
"Food insecurity is one of the challenges which we are facing as Thyolo district because of the inadequate of farm inputs like fertilizer.
"However, the coming in of Rutrand fertilizer will ensure farmers in the district have good access and are able to produce with bumper harvest, hence making the district food secure," she said.
On her part, District's Chief Agriculture Officer Mphatso Kafuwa appreciated the Rutrand with the introduction of the project saying it's good initiative.
"As agriculture office we really appreciate this initiative as you know the prices of the fertilizer is very high, so this type of fertilizer made through combination of both inorganic and organic is very good," she highlighted.
The project is being run in Ntcheu, Dedza, Zomba, Chiradzulu, Blantyre, Mulanje and Thyolo, targeting all Traditional Authority's (T/As) and Extension Planning Areas (EPAs)
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