Malawi’s pigeon peas farmers have failed to utilise the India market and have called on government to step in to elevate the crop’s status within national agricultural strategies.
The sentiments by Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM) follow published data from India High Commission in Malawi showing that Malawi exported $9.62 million (about K16 billion) worth of pigeon peas (nandolo) in the first quarter of 2024.
This is a decline from the 52 000MT exported in 2022 valued at $13.65 million (about K23 billion) and the $49.29 million (about K86 billion) exported in 2023.
FUM president Manes Nkhata in an interview on Monday observed that despite its potential as a key export crop, pigeon pea production has historically received limited attention in Malawi’s national agricultural policies and investment plans.
Compared to crops such as maize or tobacco, she said pigeon peas has not benefitted from targeted subsidy programmes, research investments or promotional campaigns.
Said Nkhata: “This lack of institutional support has hindered efforts to scale up production and improve competitiveness.
“Government-backed export promotion initiatives can help position Malawian pigeon peas more effectively in global markets.”
In January 2024, the Indian Government extended Malawi’s pigeon peas export quota for the 2024/25 marketing season, a development that presented an opportunity for farmers and the country to boost foreign exchange earnings.
The extension follows the removal of waiver of a 50 000 metric tonnes (MT) export quota imposed on Malawi by the Indian Government in 2022.
The move was in line with Malawi Government’s wider diversification plan, which involves the intensification of legumes growing to supplement foreign exchange from tobacco, which is the country’s number one forex earner, but its earnings have been dwindling over the past five years.
Speaking separately on Monday, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources Centre for Agricultural Research and Development director Innocent Pangapanga Phiri said the dominance of smallholder farmers with limited access to certified inputs, has forced them to rely on recycled or uncertified seeds which are low yielding, less disease-resistant and inconsistent in quality.
He said while this undermines productivity and marketability, the absence of well-established aggregation centres, persistent and adverse climate shocks and lack of market intelligence and exposure to price volatility has worsened the situation.
Said Phiri: “Another major constraint is the lack of access to reliable, real-time market intelligence among smallholder farmers and local exporters.
“Without insights into such demand-side dynamics, Malawian producers often make uninformed production decisions, leading to missed opportunities when demand peaks.”
He said to improve market responsiveness, Malawi needs to invest in market information systems that provide timely updates on international prices, buyer preferences and weather-related trade patterns.
Nandolo Farmers Association of Malawi chairperson Susan Chimbayo is quoted as having said that low access to finance and the absence of structured markets affects production.
Ministry of Trade and Industry spokesperson Patrick Botha was yet to respond to our questionnaire on the status of the market.
Meanwhile, pigeon peas production has dropped to 17 265 MT in the 2024/2025 farming season from 26 245MT last season.
Since India introduced the trade policy on import of pigeon peas in 2017, Malawi has lost 64 percent in export earnings.
India High Commission data shows that Malawi exports to the Asian country fell from $39.32 million (about K67 billion) in 2016/17 to $9.05 million (about K15 billion) in 2020/21.
On the other hand, Ministry of Trade and Industry data indicate that in 2022, for instance, Malawi exported 69 151MT of pigeon peas with a significant portion of the exports going to United Arab Emirates.
Out of this, India only imported 20 000MT, due to the import restriction imposed by the Indian government in New Delhi.
