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Coffee farmers want subsidy on farm inputs
Smallholder coffee farmers in Chitipa have complained that they are not benefiting from growing the crop due to the high costs of farm inputs.
The farmers expressed their concern when interviewed during a coffee management field day organised by the Smallholder Coffee Farmers Trust in conjunction with the Mzuzu-based Lunyangwa Agricultural Research Station.
"The costs of farm inputs such as fertiliser and chemicals is very high such that most of us cannot afford. Oftentimes we are growing the crop without applying enough fertiliser and chemicals which in turn is lowering our yields and making our crop prone to diseases," complained Ben Mubisa, a coffee grower from Misuku.
Association advisor for Misuku coffee growers Moses Ganda concurred with the farmers, arguing that the farmers are failing to get the highest potential from their coffee trees due to the high cost of the inputs.
He asked government to consider subsidising prices for the inputs.
"What we are saying is that government should consider extending the subsidy facility to coffee farmers as well because with the decline of tobacco, coffee has the capacity of becoming the country's major foreign exchange earner. Subsidies should not just end with tobacco and maize," said Ganda.
During the field day, farmers were sensitised on a new technology to combat the deadly stem borer disease which is very severe and can wipe out the entire coffee field within a short period. The technology, which involves the use of a chemical fliponil, has been developed by the Lunyangwa Research Station.
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