Rice is Malawi’s second most important cereal crop after maize, providing food, income, and livelihoods for thousands of families. However, the crop is increasingly under threat from diseases and pests that are threatening farmers’ productivity.

Among the major threats are Rice Yellow Mottle Virus, stem borers, and mealybugs, which have caused significant crop losses in several rice-growing districts, with harvests and income dropping drastically.

As these challenges intensify, scientists are exploring biotechnology and other agricultural innovations as potential solutions. But how effective could this technology be in protecting Malawi’s rice production, and what challenges stand in the way of their adoption?

In this special report, Eamon Piringu examines how biotechnology could help build a more resilient rice sector in Malawi by countering the growing threat posed by pests and diseases