The National Economic Empowerment Fund (Neef) has issued an urgent plea to Parliament to lift a suspension that is blocking the sale of overstocked farm inputs, warning of potential losses reaching K15 billion, according to Nyasa Times. Neef Chief Executive Kayisi Sadala stated that time-sensitive agricultural assets, including chemical fertilisers and maize seed, are rapidly deteriorating under current storage conditions. An ongoing audit has frozen the institution's lending operations, leaving Neef with K12 billion in unpaid invoices. This debt burden includes K2.5 billion owed to the Smallholder Fertiliser Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) alongside further liabilities to seed suppliers.
In a separate initiative, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) is expanding its support for local food systems, according to Planet Defence. Through a partnership with the Farmers Union of Malawi, AGRA is rolling out a new agricultural project to help smallholder farmers shift from relying solely on traditional cash crops to cultivating drought-resistant alternatives like soya beans. The programme provides seed loan packages and tailored agricultural extension services to align with Malawi Vision 2063 priorities.
Meanwhile, a group of citizens has organised a nationwide thanksgiving march scheduled for April 17 to acknowledge recent agricultural and economic improvements, Nyasa Times reports. Operating under the banner "Malawi United in Gratitude," the organisers highlighted significant gains in national food security. They noted that retail maize prices have dropped from previous peaks of K100,000 per 50-kilogramme bag to current ranges between K38,000 and K60,000. The group attributes the price stabilization to recent government interventions, including grain imports and the reopening of Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) markets.