In a sweeping address to open the 52nd Session of Parliament, President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika declared Malawi’s economic recovery a top national priority, unveiling a series of measures aimed at restoring stability—with a landmark shift in agricultural policy drawing immediate applause from the sector.

A key announcement was the official reintroduction of the Farm Inputs Subsidy Programme (FISP), which will replace the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) initiated by former President Lazarus Chakwera’s administration. Under the new-old scheme, fertilizer will be sold at K10,000 per 50-kilogram bag.

“The 2025/2026 farming season program will be launched in the second week of November,” Mutharika announced, detailing that the revamped FISP is expected to benefit 1.1 million farmers, each receiving two bags of fertilizer and a 5-kilogram seed pack.

The announcement was met with swift approval from key agricultural stakeholders, who described the move as a critical step towards boosting productivity and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

Stakeholders Applaud Affordability, Urge Effective Implementation

In an interview, Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM) President Manes Nkhata commended the government for the significant reduction in input costs and the policy reset. “This initiative is a timely relief for our farmers,” Nkhata stated.

She, however, urged authorities to learn from past challenges, emphasizing that “timely planning and implementation are crucial to avoid logistical hurdles and ensure farmers access these inputs early.”

On his part, agricultural expert Leonard Chimwaza described the K10,000 price as beneficial but stressed that success hinges on transparency.

“The reduction is a positive step,” Chimwaza said. “However, its impact will only be meaningful with proper coordination to ensure that only the deserving beneficiaries are included in the program. We must get the targeting right.”

Crackdown on Counterfeits and a Broader Economic Vision

Acknowledging past issues that have plagued subsidy programs, President Mutharika directly addressed the threat of counterfeit agricultural inputs.

He issued a directive to the Malawi Police Service and the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) to intensify efforts against the sale of fake fertilizers, a move aimed at protecting farmers and safeguarding public funds.