According to a recent food security outlook from FEWS NET published on ReliefWeb, between 2.0 and 2.49 million Malawians will require humanitarian food assistance during the peak lean season from January to March 2026. The report notes that most of the country received average rainfall to support the upcoming April and May main harvests. However, localized dry spells in the southern region have caused wilting in 15 to 20 percent of planted maize.
In response to erratic weather patterns and high input costs, an increasing number of smallholder farmers in Mzimba are adopting agroecology, Agri Malawi reports. The farming method aims to reduce dependency on expensive synthetic fertilisers, which currently cost nearly K500,000 per acre, and protect crops from severe weather conditions.
Meanwhile, Zodiak Malawi reports that the Tobacco Commission has planted over 2,000 trees around the source of the Mpasadzi River in Kasungu to support local tobacco farmers and protect agricultural infrastructure. Kasungu Division Manager Isaac Chikolola stated that the tree planting follows severe water runoff that washed away the Mpasadzi bridge along the M1 road, rendering it impassable and disrupting the movement of clients and farming partners.