The Fertiliser Association of Malawi has warned of a potential supply deficit for the upcoming agricultural season. According to Nation Online, the association estimates that its members currently hold 147,508 metric tonnes of fertiliser. This leaves a shortfall of over 300,000 metric tonnes against the national requirement of 450,000 to 475,000 metric tonnes. The association stated that access to foreign exchange and logistical limits will dictate whether the private sector can secure enough stock through imports and blending to meet demand.
This supply issue coincides with rising food costs. A July Food Security Monitor report from AGRA, as cited by Nation Online, projects that maize prices could climb to K1,270 per kilogram by early 2027 due to kwacha fluctuations and high transport expenses. Additionally, Agri Malawi reports that 2.6 million Malawians still face food shortages despite recent improvements in the national hunger crisis.
In the cash crop sector, the Tobacco Commission reported that Malawi is on track to meet its revised production target of 155 million kilograms. Nyasa Times notes that after 17 weeks of trading, the market had absorbed 135 million kilograms of tobacco. The initial projection of 190 million kilograms was lowered earlier in the year following severe weather shocks.
Furthermore, Nation Online reports that Malawi has secured a new market for groundnuts in Kenya. However, agricultural economists from the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources caution that strict control of aflatoxin contamination will be necessary for local farmers to benefit from the new export route.