By Wendy Mkandawire
The Federation of Disability Organizations in Malawi (FEDOMA) has challenged the government to ensure that persons with disabilities are not sidelined in the 2026/27 Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP).
FEDOMA Executive Director Symon Munde stated that last farming season, many persons with disabilities were left behind despite being eligible and vulnerable, and the organization expects a turn around this year
Speaking in an interview, after the Ministry of Agriculture launched the 2026/27 FISP, Munde said deliberate inclusion is key to achieving food security at the household level for persons with disabilities.
He warned that the continued exclusion of persons with disabilities from social protection programs like FISP contradicts the Malawi 2063 Agenda pillar of inclusivity, which stresses that no one should be left behind.
Munde has since called on district councils and traditional leaders responsible for beneficiary identification to ensure that disability is prioritized in the selection criteria.
Last week, Agriculture Minister Roza Fatch Mbilizi said the FISP program will accommodate 1.2 million resource-constrained smallholder farmers through timely access to inputs for the coming farming season.
She said the government has introduced reforms to improve efficiency, transparency, accountability, and sustainability, with farmer organizations now serving as the primary channel for identifying beneficiaries and distributing inputs.
