Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Roza Mbilizi says the government has in this year’s Farm Inputs Subsidy Programme (Fisp) prioritised hard-to-reach areas that receive early rains.
The minister, speaking in an interview in Lilongwe on Friday on the sidelines of commemorations marking World Food Day and Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security, said the exercise has started in districts such as Chitipa, Mwanza, Neno, Makanjira in Mangochi and the Lower Shire districts of Chikwawa and Nsanje.
Mbilizi said the government was also promoting crop diversification to cushion farmers against climate shocks in the wake of El Niño conditions forecast to bring erratic rains that may compromise agricultural output.
She said: “The programme is progressing well, with Chitipa recording a 70 percent redemption rate. We are also encouraging diversification in crop production, where farmers are being encouraged to grow sorghum, cassava and potatoes.
“This year, with the threat of El Niño, we will distribute seeds such as sorghum and vines for cassava and potatoes to build resilience.”
Commenting on food insecurity, Mbilizi said the government has stocked enough maize to help vulnerable households during the current lean season.
In August, the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (Mvac) projected the number of food-insecure families to drop to 2.6 million during the 2026/27 consumption period, representing 14 percent of the country’s population. The report further said of the total of the needy, about 2.5 million are from rural areas, representing a 36 percent decline compared to the 2024/25 lean season while the affected population in the cities of Blantyre, Zomba, Lilongwe and Mzuzu has increased by 27 percent to 81 405 people.
Mbilizi said the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) will soon start distributing maize to households projected to face acute food insecurity.
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) country representative Ali Said Yesuf called for increased investment in climate-resilient agriculture, irrigation and modern farming technologies to address recurring food crises.
He said Malawi needed to reduce its dependence on rain-fed agriculture and adopt farming practices that could withstand droughts and floods. He identified irrigation expansion, efficient water use, drought-resistant crops and modernised agricultural extension services as critical interventions.
Through Fisp, the government is targeting 610 931 direct beneficiaries, who will receive subsidised inorganic fertiliser and certified seed. However, the number is expected to double to 1 221 862 smallholder farmers through the integration of Mbeya organic fertiliser production, with farmers’ organisations playing a central role in implementation.
Fisp, launched in Ntchisi on September 24, requires each beneficiary to contribute K50 000 towards a package comprising two 50-kilogramme bags of fertiliser, subsidised at K20 000 each, and a five-kilogramme packet of certified maize seed costing K10 000.
