Malawi’s farmers are facing mounting financial pressure as high fertiliser and fuel costs collide with low maize prices, raising concerns about agricultural profitability and food security. The challenges came into focus during the country’s World Food Day commemoration on 16 October, as farmers and industry stakeholders called for improved access to inputs, stronger markets and greater investment in climate-resilient agriculture.

This year’s World Food Day theme, “Innovate Today. Nourish Tomorrow,” highlights the need to strengthen food systems while ensuring that farmers can earn sustainable incomes from their production.

Gibson Jere, Deputy Director for Food and Nutrition in Malawi’s Ministry of Agriculture, said that although progress had been made, many households continued to struggle to access sufficient, affordable and nutritious food. He emphasised that food security requires more than increasing production, calling for greater dietary diversity throughout the year.

Jere encouraged farmers to diversify beyond maize into sorghum, millet, cassava, legumes, orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, fruits and vegetables. He also highlighted livestock production, fish farming, irrigation and climate-smart agricultural practices as important components of a more resilient food system.

However, concerns remain over the affordability and timely delivery of agricultural inputs. According to figures cited by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), a 50-kilogram bag of NPK fertiliser costs between K185,000 and K210,000, while urea sells for between K180,000 and K190,000. Both products were reported to have increased in price by 29.4% year-on-year.

Fuel costs add further pressure because diesel is essential for agricultural machinery, irrigation pumps and transporting produce to market. The Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority reported that diesel prices were reduced from K6,306 to K5,863 per litre in August 2026, while petrol remained at K5,619 per litre.

Former Finance Minister and commercial farmer Simplex Chithyola Banda said the high cost of fertiliser, fuel and certified seed was undermining farm profitability. Through his 300-hectare Namuleri Farms operation in Kasungu, he produces maize, rice, cassava, bananas and sugarcane, alongside livestock and fisheries.

Banda called for a more reliable agricultural subsidy or electronic voucher system that delivers fertiliser before planting, stable fuel and foreign-exchange conditions, and clearer guidance for farmers facing climate-related risks. He also advocated minimum farm-gate prices that reflect production costs.

On the market side, he urged buyers to establish contracts before planting, pay farmers promptly and expand aggregation centres and warehouse facilities. Access to inputs on credit, repayable after harvest, could also help producers manage cash-flow constraints during the growing season.

Farmers are nevertheless adopting measures to reduce their exposure to rising costs and unpredictable weather. Banda highlighted conservation agriculture practices such as minimum tillage, mulching, crop rotation, composting and organic manure. Other approaches include agroforestry, water harvesting, intercropping and diversifying into crops such as cassava, sweet potatoes, sorghum and pigeon peas.

These practices can help improve soil health, conserve moisture and reduce reliance on some purchased inputs, although their effectiveness depends on local conditions and appropriate implementation.

The pressure on producers is also affecting rural livelihoods. Fred Sambani, a soybean and maize farmer from Mchinji, said farmers were struggling to earn a living despite supplying food to the country. He warned that food security would remain difficult to sustain if agricultural production continued to undermine the financial wellbeing of farming households.

Consumer protection is another concern. John Kapito, director of the Consumer Association of Malawi, raised concerns about inadequate oversight in informal markets, including unlabelled packaging and inaccurate measuring equipment. He also argued that food security policies should look beyond maize and address access to a wider range of nutritious foods.

Despite the difficulties facing producers, maize is reportedly more affordable for some consumers this year. Vegetable gardener Maxwell Gwetsani, from Lilongwe, said a 50-kilogram bag was selling for approximately K45,000 to K50,000. However, lower prices for consumers can also mean reduced returns for farmers, particularly when input costs remain high.

Other households continue to face food access challenges linked to poverty and climate-related crop losses. In Blantyre, resident Wesley Namalueso described the continuing effects of Cyclone Freddy, which caused flooding and damaged harvests in the area.

Malawi’s experience highlights the challenge of balancing affordable food for consumers with viable incomes for producers. Improving the timing of input subsidies, expanding irrigation, strengthening agricultural markets and encouraging crop diversification could help address the problem. However, the longer-term outlook will also depend on weather conditions, household purchasing power and the implementation of effective agricultural support programmes.