The Malawi government has unveiled reforms to the Farm Input Support Programme to improve food security and curb corruption, according to the Malawi Nation. Under the updated programme, beneficiaries will pay K50,000 to redeem two 50-kilogramme bags of fertiliser subsidised at K20,000 each, alongside a five-kilogramme packet of certified maize seed priced at K10,000. The government plans to procure 61,094 metric tonnes of NPK and Urea fertiliser through the Smallholder Farmers Fertiliser Revolving Fund of Malawi, as well as 3,054 metric tonnes of maize seed. To combat fraud and political interference, the new input coupons will feature unique serial numbers and approved security features.
In the cash crop sector, the government is weighing a proposal to reopen the Kabwafu Satellite Tobacco Auction Floors in Mzimba, Malawi24 reports. Agriculture Minister Roza Mbilizi told Parliament that the Tobacco Commission will consult with stakeholders to determine if the facility can be reopened for the 2026/2027 marketing season. The issue was raised by Mzimba West MP Ackim Kumwenda, who noted that farmers currently face steep transport costs of around K30,000 to travel to Mzuzu to sell their yields.
Meanwhile, women cotton farmers in southern Malawi are successfully diversifying their agricultural revenues, according to Bird Story Agency. The Mkuyu Women's Group in Mangochi District, chaired by Juliana Samuel, harvested six bales of seed cotton from their 0.4-hectare communal field for the 2025/2026 season, earning approximately K1.2 million. Rather than dividing the profits, the cooperative reinvested the funds into a poultry house, retail operations, and village savings schemes, establishing year-round incomes and reducing their reliance on a single harvest.