Update: The Malawi government has deployed intelligence agents to monitor the 2026/2027 Farm Inputs Subsidy Programme to prevent the theft and diversion of subsidised fertiliser, according to Nyasa Times. During the official launch of the programme in Ntchisi District, Minister of Agriculture Roza Fatch Mbilizi issued a strict warning to officials involved in the distribution process. The programme targets over 1.2 million smallholder farmers, who will receive subsidised NPK and Urea fertiliser at K20,000 per bag and certified maize seed at K10,000, with an added requirement that beneficiaries also produce organic Mbeya fertiliser.
In agricultural research, a newly published study in BMC Agriculture indicates that over 86 percent of smallholder farmers in the Mzimba, Lilongwe, and Zomba districts are willing to pay for agricultural extension and advisory services. The study highlights that farmers are open to sharing the cost of farm advice, which has historically been provided for free by the state, as long as the payment and delivery systems match their economic realities.
Meanwhile, a climate agriculture project in Dowa District is successfully connecting local farmers to new commercial markets, Nation Online reports. Supported by Oxfam in Malawi and the Circle for Integrated Community Development, the effort equips 1,200 households with solar irrigation pumps and local seeds. Organisers state the project is designed to help farmers withstand climate shocks while expanding their income opportunities and improving food security.