§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what plans the Department has for making affordable fertiliser available to smallholders in Southern Africa in the(a) short term and (b) long term. [117847]
§ Hilary BennFor the longer term, DFID is working with partners in the region to promote improved access by smallholder farmers to agricultural inputs and credit from the private sector. In the short term, we are in several countries supporting the Food and Agriculture Organisation, governments and non-government organisations in providing fertilisers and other critical inputs to poor farmers. We are for example continuing support to the National Targeted Inputs programme in Malawi, which aims to provide free fertiliser and seed to the poorest farmers.