DFID expands farm input aid

Britain is to provide Malawi with a further US $10.2 million to help boost agricultural production by expanding the number of poor rural families receiving farm inputs. The Expanded Targeted Inputs Programme (ETIP) is expected to benefit two million rural households, doubling the number that received support in 2001. ETIP is expected to make a "substantial impact on food and particularly maize production in 2003", a Department for International Development (DFID) statement said on Monday. Norway is contributing an additional US $3 million, and the Malawi government US $1.5 million. "DFID continues to play an active part in helping the people of Malawi to overcome the severe food security problems they are currently facing both through immediate food imports, and assistance designed to restore sustainable domestic food production in 2003 and beyond. This has become our highest priority," said Mike Wood, head of the DFID office in Malawi. Registration of ETIP beneficiaries by Area Development Committees in each district was almost complete. Each beneficiary household would receive a free pack containing 1 kg of legume seeds, 2 kg of maize seed and 10 kg of fertiliser. Distribution was expected to begin in late September and be completed by early December, the DFID statement said. The latest contribution to ETIP brings the total value of British aid to Malawi to help tackle the food crisis at well over US $38 million.