Malawi farmers await fertiliser as planting season nears
Prospective beneficiaries in the Southern Region report no NPK and UREA, risking crop yields.
Malawian farmers in the Southern Region are still waiting for NPK and UREA fertiliser for the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP) as the planting season approaches. Rains for planting maize could arrive as early as next week, but basal fertiliser is most effective when applied within seven days of planting.
The Fertiliser Suppliers Association of Malawi reports available fertiliser stocks stand at approximately 148,000 metric tonnes against annual national requirements of 448,000 tonnes, a shortfall of about 300,000 tonnes. Farmers are concerned about what they will plant with if the inputs do not arrive on time.
Despite a shift in the financial year to April 1 for better planning, the timely delivery of essential inputs remains a challenge. Forecasts of possible El Niño conditions and erratic rainfall add to the urgency for farmers who have been advised to diversify crops.
Why it mattersFarmers in Malawi face potential crop failure due to delays in receiving essential fertiliser inputs needed for the upcoming planting season.