Africa-Press – Malawi. The Ministry of Agriculture says it is targeting 1,500 farmers under the Mega Farm Support Programme for the 2025-26 growing season.
President Lazarus Chakwera launched the programme in August 2023 as one way of promoting food security in the country.
In the first year, the ministry engaged about 200 farmers, who grew various types of crops across the country.
The government invested about K20 billion in which—under the Mega Farm Support Department under the ministry and Malawi Agriculture and Industrial Investment Corporation (Maiic)—it provided 952 farmers with fertiliser, seed and insecticides, among others, on loan.
The interest rate for the loan is 15 percent, which was applicable in the 2024-25 growing season, according to ministry officials.
Mega Farms Initiative Director Henry Msatilomo told The Daily Times that the ministry was eyeing more farmers to ensure more yield.
“We are anticipating that during the 2025-26 growing season, we will reach our target of 1,500 mega farmers. The most important thing is that farmers have to show interest [in the initiative] by applying through the link that has been shared and advertised in the newspapers,” Msatilomo said.
He said the ministry was happy with the efforts made as the programme had helped farmers harvest over 150,000 metric tonnes of maize during the year.
“During the 2024- 25 growing season, the programme worked with 952 farmers, in which 855 farmers grew tobacco, groundnuts, soya beans and ginger, just to mention a few. We are happy to report that, so far, over 150,000 metric tonnes have been realised this year,” he said.
He was quick to disclose that the initiative could have achieved its target—that is, realising 215,000 metric tonnes of maize—had farmers not faced dry spells in some parts of the country.
“When preparing for the 2024-25 growing season, we planned to reach about 215,000 metric tonnes of maize but we faced natural disasters such as dry spells, for example in Salima and Rumphi. This has affected some farmers,” he said.
He said, per agreement, the maize would be purchased by the National Food Reserve Agency and Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation through Maiic.
Meanwhile, agriculture policy expert Leonard Chimwaza has said there is a need for the ministry to address some challenges which could have affected the implementation of the programme in the just-ended year.
Chimwaza cited late distribution of inputs to the vice.
“Going forward, there should be timely recruitment and distribution of production inputs, Prudence in agronomic practices by mega farmers, [the adoption of the] practice of water harvesting and sustainable technologies through engagements with all value chain players,” Chimwaza said.
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