Farmers in Malawi are facing renewed pressure from rising global food and fertiliser prices, with a new report warning that climate shocks at home combined with geopolitical tensions abroad are undermining fragile recovery efforts in parts of the country.
A monitoring report by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa says Malawi entered April with temporary relief following the start of the main harvest season, but cautions that the improvement in food access remains uneven and potentially short-lived.
According to the report, improved availability of own-produced food, farm labour income and crop sales has helped deliver “minimal food security outcomes” in central and northern Malawi. However, the situation in southern districts and parts of the central region remains under severe stress after repeated climate-related shocks.
Flooding and erratic weather conditions have affected more than 300,000 people, weakening livelihoods and delaying recovery in already vulnerable communities, the report said.
At the same time, Malawi is being squeezed by rising global input costs, particularly fertiliser and fuel, which the report links in part to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and disruptions in international supply chains.
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Global food prices continued their upward trajectory in April, with the Food and Agriculture Organization Food Price Index rising 1.6 percent to 130.7, marking a third consecutive monthly increase. Grain and oilseed markets also strengthened during the period, adding to cost pressures across import-dependent economies.
For Malawi, a largely agrarian economy where most smallholder farmers rely on imported inputs, the impact is immediate and widespread.
The AGRA monitor highlights a sharp rise in fertiliser costs, noting that global urea prices increased by nearly 50 percent year-on-year, while other key fertiliser components such as DAP, MAP and potash also climbed significantly due to supply disruptions and higher energy costs.
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The report says Malawi and neighbouring Mozambique have experienced some of the steepest fertiliser price increases in the region, with urea prices rising between 36 and 58 percent in a single month and nearly doubling compared to a year earlier.
Fuel prices have added another layer of pressure. Malawi recorded a 26 percent increase in petrol and diesel prices between March and April alone, raising transport costs for both agricultural inputs and food distribution.
Analysts say these cost increases are feeding directly into production expenses for farmers, while also pushing up market prices for basic staples in rural and urban areas.
Despite these challenges, the domestic food picture remains mixed. Maize prices fell by 17 percent month-on-month in dollar terms as fresh harvests entered the market, while bean prices declined by 6 percent due to improved supply conditions. Rice prices also eased slightly, though Malawi remains among the higher-priced markets in the region.
The report notes that while the harvest has improved food availability in several regions, the benefits are not evenly distributed. Southern Malawi in particular continues to experience acute stress, with repeated shocks eroding household purchasing power and slowing recovery.
Beyond food consumption, the pressure is spilling into other areas of household welfare. Rising food and fuel costs are forcing families to reduce spending on education, healthcare and other essential services, deepening long-term vulnerability.
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The AGRA report also highlights a shift in policy responses across Malawi and neighbouring countries, with greater emphasis on regenerative agriculture, organic fertilisers, composting and biological nitrogen fixation as governments seek alternatives to costly imported inputs.
However, it cautions that such measures remain medium- to long-term solutions and are unlikely to offset immediate price shocks in global markets.
Some governments in the region are also exploring local fertiliser production and stockpiling strategies, but analysts say these efforts will take time to scale and will require significant investment.
The report underscores that Malawi’s agricultural system remains heavily exposed to external shocks, particularly fluctuations in global energy and fertiliser markets driven by geopolitical instability.
With international prices remaining volatile and climate risks intensifying, the AGRA monitor warns that the current seasonal relief could quickly fade if input costs remain elevated ahead of the next planting season.
For now, Malawi’s food security outlook is described as “fragile but temporarily stabilised,” with analysts cautioning that without sustained support and structural reforms, the country risks slipping back into deeper food insecurity in the months ahead.
