Some farmers in the country have started planting maize following recent rainfall, defying agricultural authorities and MET warnings that the onset of the 2026/27 growing season is still weeks away.
Spot-checks in Blantyre, Chiradzulu, Machinga, Ntcheu Dedza and Salima show that some farmers have already planted maize, which in some areas has spouted.
In an interview yesterday, Machinga Agricultural Development Division (ADD) programmes manager Adreck Benat said he was aware that some farmers in his division have already planted, expressing concern that the crops are unlikely to survive considering the prevailing hot weather conditions and anticipated timing of the onset of the rainy season.
He said the division, which covers Zomba, Machinga, Mangochi and Balaka, has been advising farmers against planting prematurely, as the onset of the growing season in the area is expected from the second week of November.
Said Benat: “It is very unfortunate that some farmers ignored our advice and went on to plant. The likelihood of the crops’ survival is very minimal because this area has a very hot weather and according to Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services the onset of the rains are expected from second week of November, to be followed by a week-long dry spell in January and February each.”
He, however, advised farmers who have not yet planted to wait until the second week of November, while those whose crops had germinated should consider irrigation to minimise potential losses.
On his part, Blantyre ADD programmes manager Anderson Chikomola expressed shock that some farmers have planted, but said there is little the experts can do.
The MET seasonal weather forecast indicates that the onset of the rainy season in Blantyre ADD, which covers Blantyre, Chiradzulu, Phalombe, Mulanje, Thyolo, Mwanza and Neno, is expected from the second week of December.
In Ntcheu, district agriculture officer David Alli also confirmed that some farmers planted following rainfall experienced over the past few days despite his office advising them against doing so.
He said some farmers ignored the advice, choosing to rely on their own understanding of weather patterns.
Salima ADD programmes manager Benson Sumani also expressed surprise.
He said the weather outlook for his division, which covers Salima and Nkhotakota, indicates that the onset of the rainy season is expected between late November and December.
Meanwhile, Kasungu ADD programmes manager Yusuf Shaibu said farmers in his division have not started planting, largely because most of the areas had not received rainfall. The division covers Kasungu, Ntchisi, Mchinji and Dowa districts.
On his part, Lilongwe ADD programmes manager Taurayi Mlewah was not available for comment on the extent of early planting in the division, which covers Lilongwe, Dedza and Ntcheu districts.
Farmers Union of Malawi president Mannes Nkhata asked for more time before commenting on the matter.
But agricultural policy expert Tamani Nkhono Mvula noted that rainfall recorded in some parts of the country should not be mistaken for the onset of the rainy season.
He said although some areas had received rainfall, this did not necessarily mean there was sufficient moisture to sustain crops through their early stages of growth.
“They have rushed to plant and this is a recipe for disaster. Farmers should seek guidance from extension workers first before making such risky decisions,” said Nkhono Mvula.
MET defines the onset of the rainy season as the first rainfall event after October 1, during which cumulative rainfall exceeds 25 millimetres over three consecutive days, followed by no dry spell lasting more than 10 days in the subsequent 21 days.
