Munthali, Julius Kadambo2011-05-052011-05-052011-05-05http://hdl.handle.net/10539/9653MM -P&DMThe Malawi Farm Input Subsidy Programme is faced with the problem of corruption, in particular, the selling of fertilizer subsidy coupons by Agricultural officials and Traditional Leaders. This research study focuses on Lilongwe district as a case study and examines underlying reasons that facilitate the selling of fertilizer subsidy coupons in the district. In order to understand technical and social dynamics around the problem of selling subsidy coupons in Lilongwe district, the research focuses on the coupon distribution system which forms part of the fertilizer subsidy implementation strategy. The research fundamentally uses qualitative methodology with Lilongwe district as the case study to collect in-depth information from informants. Quantitative tools are only used in data presentation and analysis. The purpose of this research is to investigate the problem of selling fertilizer subsidy coupons by Agricultural officials and Traditional Leaders in Lilongwe district and find out how the coupon system could be improved. The research shows that the fertilizer subsidy initiative has been fairly successful in Lilongwe district. However, incidences of corruption in the form of selling fertilizer subsidy coupons hinder the programme from achieving its objectives of ensuring food self sufficiency as evidenced by some pockets of hungry communities in the district. Corruption is mainly caused by lack of accountability measures in the design of the implementation strategy and lack of empowerment of communities to demand accountability from authoritiesenCorruption, MalawiFertilizer sales, MalawiThesis