Update: Following earlier farmer rejections of lower market values, the Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM) has formally protested the government's newly released minimum farm gate maize price of K900 per kilogramme, which dropped from K1,050 last year, reports Malawi Nation. FUM President Maness Nkhata stated that the gazetted rate falls far below the estimated break-even production cost of K1,060 per kilogramme. Nkhata warned that forcing farmers to sell at a loss could discourage future maize production across the country as input costs continue to rise.
In regulatory agricultural news, the Pesticides Control Board has appointed James Chiku Kaphale as its new Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, effective May 1, 2026, according to Nyasa Times. Kaphale previously served as Director of Administration and Company Secretary for ADMARC, as well as Executive Director of the Competition and Fair Trading Commission. He will be responsible for overseeing agricultural chemical safety and enforcing environmental standards for farming inputs in Malawi.