Wait Holdings, a new fertiliser blending firm, has started operations in Blantyre, producing 50 metric tonnes (MT) per hour under its MlimiFert brand. The companhy has pledged to bolster Malawi’s national fertiliser programmes and commercial agriculture.
The Malawian-owned enterprise, established to strengthen the country’s agricultural input supply systems through local production and value addition, commissioned its Lunzu facility in January 2026.
The move comes as Malawi seeks to cut reliance on costly imported blends and adopt technologies tailored for local soils.
Wait Holdings managing director Irene Mlundira said the project was conceived to address Malawi’s dependence on imported fertilisers and the growing demand for crop- and soil-specific nutrient solutions.
She said: “The project is fully operational with blending systems, storage facilities, and quality control processes already in place and installed production capacity of up to 50MT per hour, or 30 000MT per month.
“Our facility is serving the market with high-quality blends tailored to Malawi’s agricultural needs.”
The plant produces a range of NPK blends, supported by an on-site soil testing laboratory for fertiliser verification, raw material inspection, and soil analysis.
Mlundira said this enables farmers and institutional buyers to access precise recommendations, reducing waste, improving productivity, lowering costs and supporting long-term soil health.
While declining to disclose the initial investment, Mlundira confirmed the company is committing $5 million (K8.7 billion) to expand blending capacity and distribution.
She said regional outlets in Lilongwe and Mzuzu are expected to open this year to improve nationwide access.
In an interview on Monday, agriculture policy expert Tamani Nkhono-Mvula welcomed the development, describing it as “ideal for the country’s agro-based economy”.
He noted that Malawi’s vulnerability as a landlocked nation reliant on imports from Russia and the Middle East.
“When you have alternative initiatives like these, this becomes good news and something we need to promote,” said Nkhono- Mvula.
Civil Society Agriculture Network chairperson Herbert Chagona stressed the importance of local initiatives amid foreign exchange shortages.
“International companies have expressed willingness to invest in fertiliser plants, which highlights the viability of such projects,” he said.
Wait Holdings’ blends are recommended for maize, tea, tobacco, legumes, fruits, horticulture and other crops, aligned to specific soil conditions.
Fertiliser Association of Malawi estimates the national minimum annual requirement at between 450 000 and 475 000MT.
The Malawi Government has struggled to import blended fertiliser due to foreign exchange constraints.
