Subsidised fertiliser restores hope for struggling Central Region farmers

By Tiwonge Kampondeni

Lilongwe, February 7, MANA: Felatu Dickson, 61, of Kamnong’ona Village in Traditional Authority M’bwatalika in Lilongwe, could not take his eyes off the 50 kilogramme bag of NPK fertiliser resting beside him. Moments earlier, he had redeemed it under the Farm Inputs Subsidy Programme (FISP) at Mpingu point of sale, a sight he had never imagined would one day be his reality.

From time to time, he checked the bag again, as if reassuring himself that it was real. Around him, fellow farmers chatted excitedly as they waited to redeem their own inputs, sharing smiles and hopeful glances.

For Dickson, the moment marked a turning point in a long and difficult farming journey.

“This is my first time to benefit from this programme. I have been a farmer all along, but I have never benefited from this programme. I am grateful because of this support and I expect to harvest more this time because, previously, I could not afford fertiliser,” he said.

For years, Dickson relied on traditional farming methods, harvesting little because essential inputs such as fertiliser were beyond his financial reach.

Each farming season brought uncertainty, leaving his family vulnerable to recurring food shortages.

His inclusion on the FISP beneficiary list came as a surprise.

“I was at home in the evening with my family when a member of the community committee visited me,” Dickson recalled.

“She told me that they wanted to include me on the list of beneficiaries after considering my financial status. I was overwhelmed with joy because it is something I never expected.”

Dickson’s experience mirrors that of many farmers across the Central Region whose fortunes have shifted through the programme.

In Kakowa Village in Dowa District, FISP has also renewed hope for 25-year-old Rahaby Chandamale, who manages farming activities on behalf of her elderly parents. Her mother was selected as a beneficiary by the area’s traditional leader, giving the family renewed optimism ahead of the harvest.

Chandamale oversees cultivation on the family’s four-acre land, where they grow groundnuts, tobacco, soya beans and beans.

“I have come to redeem fertiliser on behalf of my mother. I am very happy because this fertiliser will help increase production. As a family, this means we will have more food, which will support us in many ways,” she said.

She urged fellow youths to use the subsidised inputs responsibly.

“If you are chosen, do not resell the fertiliser. Use it properly so that you benefit now and in the future. This will help us, as young people, to do well and achieve the MW 2063 goals,” Chandamale said.

She believes better harvests will not only end food shortages in her household but will also allow the family to sell surplus produce to support education and other needs.

The sense of renewed confidence is also evident in Chilombo Village in Traditional Authority Msakambewa, Dowa District, where 45-year-old Master Jevala said the reduced fertiliser prices have eased long-standing farming challenges.

“I have always faced challenges with farming due to the high prices of fertiliser, but I am grateful now that chiefs are able to choose deserving farmers, and that the redemption price has been greatly reduced,” Jevala said.

“I have a family of eight. I would never have afforded to buy fertiliser at the prevailing price of between K165,000 and K175,000 per 50 kilogramme bag.”

Jevala said access to affordable fertiliser has given him confidence to plan for the future and better provide for his family.

Across the Central Region, beneficiaries say the redemption process has been smoother than in previous years, with farmers no longer spending nights at selling points.

According to Director of Agriculture Services for Dowa District Council, Chikumbutso Liwonde, a total of 48,947 farmers have benefited from FISP in the district this season. In Lilongwe District, the number of beneficiaries stands at over 122,784.

Under the programme, each eligible farmer is entitled to one 50 kilogramme bag of NPK fertiliser and one 50 kilogramme bag of Urea, each selling at K10,000, as well as five kilogrammes of seed at no redemption fee.

The 2025/26 FISP rolled out in November, adopting a community-led beneficiary identification process guided by clear parameters to prioritise farmers who cannot afford fertiliser.

According to the Smallholder Farmers Fertiliser Revolving Fund of Malawi, fertiliser redemption is currently averaging 63 percent nationwide, with a target of reaching all 1.1 million targeted farmers by the end of February.

District agricultural authorities and community members interviewed by Malawi News Agency said the approach, where farmers recommended one another, has significantly reduced conflicts and complaints.

As the farming season advances, farmers across the Central Region are looking ahead with renewed confidence.

For beneficiaries like Dickson, Chandamale and Jevala, the fertiliser they carry home represents more than farm inputs. It symbolises restored hope for better harvests, improved livelihoods and lasting food security for their families.