The Malawi government is backing a new winter maize seed production initiative at the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) aimed at addressing seed shortages for the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP). According to the Nyasa Times, the project is cultivating maize seed across 150 hectares at Dwangwa in the Nkhotakota district within the Illovo Sugar estate. Project coordinator Lameck Fiwa stated that the program is nearing the seed processing stage and is expected to improve the availability and affordability of maize seed for farmers ahead of the upcoming agricultural season.
Update: Following earlier coverage on the decline in tobacco earnings, the 2026 tobacco marketing season has officially closed after 21 weeks of trading. The Atlas Malawi reports that the sale of 144.5 million kilogrammes of the cash crop brought in a total of 286.1 million US dollars. The national average price settled at 1.98 US dollars per kilogramme. Tobacco Commission spokesperson Telephorus Chigwenembe described the season as successful despite challenges with high rejection rates for auction tobacco. He added that a final clearance sale will be held next week for any tobacco remaining at rehandling centres.