As maize crops reach the critical tasselling stage across Malawi, thousands of Fisp beneficiaries have been unable to redeem fertiliser, a failure that threatens yields and risks deepening food insecurity ahead of the main harvest.
The Farm Input Subsidy Programme (Fisp) designed to protect the country’s poorest households from hunger by subsidising fertiliser and seed, has long been dogged by distribution problems.
This season, beneficiaries and watchdogs report delays, shortages and alleged corruption that are leaving farmers without the inputs they need at the most sensitive point in the cropping cycle.
Yesaya Jalazi, a smallholder from Che Joni Village in Traditional Authority Mtsiliza, Lilongwe, is among the 1.1 million households targeted by the programme.
He says he paid K20 000 in December to redeem fertiliser but was turned away after refusing to pay an additional K30 000 allegedly demanded by a local official.
“Fertiliser arrived this week, but it was only NPK. We scrambled to redeem a bag because my maize needs urea at this stage. I have not even applied NPK and I could not get any. The situation is worrying. I cannot afford fertiliser at current market prices,” Jalazi said.
He added that officials promised redemption next week but expressed doubt that the timing would save his crop.
In Kainga 2 Village, Traditional Authority Chitukula, Lilongwe, another problem has emerged: entire names have disappeared from beneficiary lists.
Lebiyamu Mwale told reporters that about 18 people who were on the official list suddenly went missing and that follow‑up efforts have produced no explanation.
“While some people accessed inputs in January, many others were left out. I am among those yet to receive inputs. Last year I also appeared on the list but did not get anything,” Mwale said.
The Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency (CSAT), which is monitoring Fisp, says it has recorded more than 300 complaints through its toll‑free line.
CSAT executive director Willy Kambwandira said the most frequent grievances include delayed deliveries, long queues and distances to redemption points, shortages, corruption and misuse of beneficiary lists by some chiefs and district officials.
“Key complaints include delays in fertiliser delivery, long queues and distances to redemption points, shortages of inputs, corruption and misuse of beneficiary lists by some chiefs and district council officials,” Kambwandira said. “We have also received reports of suppliers and intermediaries allegedly buying beneficiaries’ national IDs to access inputs on their behalf.”
He named Balaka, Nkhotakota, Kasungu, Mchinji, Mulanje, Rumphi, Ntchisi and Salima among the worst‑affected districts.
While families sleep on depot floors and return home empty‑handed, researchers warn that subsidies alone will not solve chronic food insecurity.
A policy brief published on January 27 by the Mwapata Institute argues that Fisp must be complemented by other social protection measures, such as cash transfers, to build resilience.
The brief, authored by Anderson Gondwe, Bonface Nankwenya, Dinah T. Salonga and Levison Chiwaula, finds that nearly 67 percent of households experience between two and 10 shocks per year and that households receiving multiple forms of social support show higher food consumption scores and greater resilience.
“Policymakers should consider bundling complementary social support programmes instead of delivering them in isolation,” the brief recommends.
“Linking cash transfers to inputs, public works or school feeding, depending on household needs and local context, could enhance resilience and food security. Promoting household diversification through improved access to microfinance and affordable loans is also critical.”
The Ministry of Agriculture says it is working to address the problems. Spokesperson Sarah Gangire acknowledged distribution challenges, including corruption in some areas, but said the ministry is engaging stakeholders and planning a national audit to identify and resolve bottlenecks.
“The programme is open‑ended; our goal is to reach all beneficiaries,” Gangire said, noting that 650 000 of the targeted 1.1 million beneficiaries, about 59 percent , have accessed inputs so far.
“We have sold 1 225 58 bags of fertiliser, which is higher than the same time last year when redemption stood at 43 percent.”
Gangire said the ministry has involved the Malawi Police Service, the Anti‑Corruption Bureau and the National Audit Office to investigate reported abuses.
Fisp received the largest single top‑up during the mid‑year budget review, with an additional K112 billion allocated, bringing the programme’s total to K241 billion. Despite the funding boost, Malawi faces a significant maize shortfall: the 2024/25 season produced 2.9 million metric tonnes against a national requirement of 3.6 million, leaving a deficit of about 600 000 tonnes.
To mitigate the gap, the government purchased 200 000 tonnes of maize from Zambia.
