At the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, Malawian officials outlined a new strategy to develop the country's agriculture sector into a regional trade center, moving away from a purely subsistence model. Minister of Agriculture Roza Mbilizi stated that agricultural progress must be driven by markets and business rather than just production volume, according to The Atlas Malawi. Supporting this vision, Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism Simon Itaye proposed cross-border value chains. He suggested Malawi could supply raw agricultural materials to neighbouring Tanzania for processing into animal feed, which would then return to support local poultry farmers, Nyasa Times reports.
During the same forum on September 3, Malawi joined several other African nations in a commitment to scale up livestock development. The initiative focuses on improving livestock genetics, animal health, and quality feed to boost self-reliance and reduce the continent's heavy dependence on food imports, according to EIN Presswire.
Domestically, farmers face economic hurdles as they prepare for the 2026/27 growing season. With conventional inorganic fertiliser prices reaching up to K205,000 per 50-kilogramme bag, many rural households are struggling to afford necessary inputs, Nation Online reports. While the government has been promoting alternative options such as Mbeya organic fertiliser to lower costs, agricultural commentators have noted that smallholder farmers require more training on its proper application before the planting season begins, according to Nation Online.