Malawi's maize production is projected to rebound this agricultural season, though it will still fall short of the country's national food requirements, according to a recent assessment by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network. As reported by Nyasa Times and AgriFocus Africa, the Reserve Bank of Malawi estimates the 2025/26 harvest will reach approximately 3.3 million metric tonnes following generally favourable rainfall. While this marks a recovery from the previous season's 2.9 million metric tonnes, it remains about 200,000 metric tonnes below the 3.5 million metric tonnes required annually to meet domestic demand.
Update: Thousands of cotton farmers across the country are facing ongoing uncertainty nearly three weeks into the marketing season due to continued purchasing delays by the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC), Malawi24 reports. The delayed market access has left growers unable to sell their produce, raising fears over potential income losses and market exploitation.
In efforts to support smallholder agriculture, the United States nonprofit WorldWise Microfinance launched a new lending programme to assist female farmers in Malawi, according to WisBusiness. Partnering with the local Centre for Child Development and Research, the initiative aims to build economic stability against droughts and floods through sustainable farming practices. This development coincides with Malawi's co-operatives marking the International Year of the Woman Farmer at the second National Cooperative Trade Fair, where Co-operative News highlighted that while women produce 80 percent of food for household consumption, only 20 percent hold land titles.