A new report reveals that Malawi has spent over K1 trillion on fertiliser and maize seed subsidies since 2015 without ending chronic hunger or meeting production targets, according to Nyasa Times. The findings, supported by a Ministry of Agriculture review and the World Bank's 2026 Malawi Economic Report, show that the country failed to produce even half of its projected maize targets. Current maize yields average between 1.5 and 2.1 metric tonnes per hectare, which falls significantly short of the government's goal of four tonnes per hectare.
In response to the underperforming agricultural sector, National Smallholder Farmers' Association of Malawi chief executive officer Betty Chinyamunyamu recently appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture to demand urgent reforms. She advised the government to diversify its investments beyond maize and direct more resources toward irrigation, agricultural research, and extension services, warning that productivity stagnation will continue without structural changes.
Update: The domestic agricultural sector is also bracing for external shocks as the Middle East conflict continues to threaten global fertiliser supplies. According to Nation Online, Fertiliser Association of Malawi executive administrator Hannah Makhambera warned that shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz could lead to shortages and price hikes. The affected trade route currently handles 35 percent of Malawi's urea imports and 23 percent of phosphate fertilisers, with the Food and Agriculture Organization projecting global prices could rise by up to 20 percent in the first half of 2026.