Malawi has officially launched the second phase of the Support Towards the Operationalisation of the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy (STOSAR) programme, an initiative funded by the European Union to strengthen agricultural systems, improve food security, and promote cross-border trade, according to MBC. Secretary for Agriculture Erica Maganga stated that the new phase, which runs until 2028, will expand its focus to nutrition and ensure biofortified crop varieties reach more farmers. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Country Representative Ali Said Yesuf added that the project will improve agricultural data systems to support regional commodity trading.
In a push to expand national fish production, Minister of Natural Resources Patricia Wiskes pledged stronger government backing for the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) Centre for Excellence in Aquaculture and Fisheries. Nyasa Times reports that during a facility tour, Wiskes highlighted the institution's role in achieving national food and nutrition security goals. LUANAR Vice Chancellor Emmanuel Kaunda welcomed the collaboration, noting that close coordination between the government, private sector, and academia is necessary to commercialise the aquaculture sector.
Meanwhile, a newly released food system assessment commissioned by Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide has outlined strategies to strengthen local food networks beyond traditional maize farming. Published on April 13, the report applies a market systems approach to identify practical opportunities for intervention in the Mangochi and Mchinji districts, according to Concern Worldwide. The findings are designed to connect national agricultural policies with district-level actions to support sustainable diets and improve market inclusion.
Update: As stakeholders continue to promote increased soybean and groundnut production to help close Malawi's foreign exchange gap, experts are warning that structural and coordination failures are hindering the sector's advancement. Speaking at the Eminent Speaker Series in Lilongwe, Alliance for the Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) vice-president Jonathan Said noted that while Malawi has the land and policy ambition, institutional fragmentation and isolated operations remain major barriers to executing large-scale agricultural reforms, Nation Online reports.