Morocco's OCP Group will assist Malawi in building a local fertiliser facility by 2028 to reduce the nation's reliance on imported agricultural inputs. According to the North Africa Post, Minister of Agriculture Roza Mbilizi confirmed that a team of Moroccan experts is currently holding meetings with Malawian officials to advance the project. The partnership follows a recent donation of 500 tons of fertiliser from Morocco, which is part of a larger 1,000-ton commitment to support Malawi's food security.
Update: The National Advocacy Platform has demanded a forensic audit and criminal prosecutions following the loss of 70 metric tonnes of maize at a Liwonde warehouse, Nyasa Times reports. The Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation admitted the maize, valued at K77 million, spoiled in storage and was later sold to livestock farmers. The civil society watchdog described the loss as a preventable failure, noting that the waste occurred while the country faces rising maize prices.
Update: Students from the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources have secured second place at the China-Africa Innovation Challenge in Nairobi, according to Nyasa Times. Returning to Malawi, student representative Ufulu Kampinga urged smallholder farmers to adopt their technology-driven farming models. He stated that locally designed tools are necessary to increase crop yields and improve rural incomes.
In the tobacco sector, Mzimba West Member of Parliament Ackim Kumwenda has urged the government to reopen the Kabwafu Satellite Tobacco Auction Floors, which closed in 2018. Nyasa Times reports that the closure left many local workers without a steady income. In response, Minister of Agriculture Roza Mbilizi indicated that officials are considering reopening the facility as a possible measure to curb cross-border tobacco smuggling.