Agriculture – Maravi Express – Your Kind of News. Clear and accurate.

SMEDCO’s Phalombe Manufacturing & Value Addition Academy opens applications for January 2027 intake

October 5, 2026

* SMEDCO shall recommend and facilitate access to business loans for successful trainees to business financing service providers * Subject to terms and conditions of the service provider, allocate mentors and continue monitoring establishment and growth of such businesses By Duncan Mlanjira Small and Medium Enterprises Development Corporation (SMEDCO) has opened applications for January 2027 intake for an intensive 3-months hands-on training on manufacturing, value addition and entrepreneurship at its Phalombe Academy. It is inviting entrepreneurs who are interested…

DoDMA unveils K488 billion national El Niño Preparedness Plan

October 5, 2026

| No Comments

| Agriculture, Business, National, News

* K163.7 billion (US$94.4 million) has been mobilised through existing projects run by government, development partners and NGOs * That leaves a gap of K324.8 billion (US$187.3 million) — the shortfall that Chief Secretary, Justin Saidi highlighted on September 10, when he urged the private sector to support By Frank Humphreys, Malawi News Agency (MANA) The Department of Disaster & Management Affairs (DoDMA) has unveiled K488 billion (US$281.7 million) national El Niño Preparedness Plan to protect millions of people…

Tomato farmers call for sustainable markets as SMEDCO moves to curb losses

October 4, 2026

| No Comments

| Agriculture, Business, News

* SMEDCO is buying surplus tomatoes amid concerns over low market prices and potential post-harvest losses * And preserving it for six months to be released back on the market when it becomes scarce while also processing tomato sauce and tomato paste By Chipangano Andisen, Malawi News Agency (MANA) Tomato farmers in Malawi have called for sustainable markets and affordable financing, saying high production costs, pest and disease challenges, and unstable prices continue to expose them to losses despite…

Operational irregularities reported by whistleblowers on Nkhata Bay’s Mzenga irrigation scheme triggers government into motion

September 25, 2026

| No Comments

| Agriculture, Business, National, News

* The project’s beneficiaries led by Chiza Mughogho raised concerns regarding its functionality and utilisation — including alleged corrupt activities * After MP for the area, Paul Kapangama Chiumia engaged Mughogho, he reached out to concerned parties and relevant authorities * MP Chiumia has since commended government for promptly addressing concerns raised by the beneficiary farmers By Duncan Mlanjira After whistleblowers, led by Chiza Mughogho, highlighted operational irregularities that was experienced over Mzenga Irrigation Scheme in Nkhata Bay District,…

Farmers encouraged to focus on rabbits, ducks, guinea fowls, pigeons to widen livestock production

September 13, 2026

| No Comments

| Agriculture, Business, News

* Rabbits, guinea fowls and ducks could help improve household nutrition because their meat provides high quality protein and essential amino acids required by the body By Rhoda Khembo, Malawi News Agency (MANA) The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation & Water Development Government is encouraging livestock farmers to focus on rearing of rabbits, guinea fowls, ducks and pigeons to widen Malawi’s livestock base. The Ministry’s public relations officer, Salome Gangire said increased production of these livestock can be an alternative…

Malawi, Tanzania agree to deepen economic ties in raw materials value addition and regional markets

September 8, 2026

| No Comments

| Agriculture, Business, News

Malawi Minister of Industrialisation, Business, Trade & Tourism, Simon Itaye speaking in Dar es Salaam when opening the 3rd Malawi–Tanzania Trade and Investment Forum * Minister Itaye calls for Malawi and Tanzania to turn long enjoyed bilateral relations into stronger commercial relationships * To convert geographical proximity into market proximity; political goodwill into commercial partnerships * And regional agreements into actual movement of goods, services, investment and people By Duncan Mlanjira During the opening of the 3rd Malawi-Tanzania Trade…

Government establishes comprehensive national preparedness measures to address potential El Niño impacts

September 4, 2026

| No Comments

| Agriculture, National, News

* Anchored on two key pillars, Preparedness and Resilience, the Plan spans 14 priority clusters * Including agriculture, food security, nutrition, health, water and sanitation, energy, protection, and logistics * It focuses on strengthening early-warning systems, safeguarding food and water security, pre-positioning supplies, and ensuring rapid response capacity By Duncan Mlanjira Following the forecast from the Department of Climate Change & Meteorological Services (DCCMS) — that indicates that a high likelihood of El Niño conditions during the 2026/27 agricultural…

UK Met Office scientists sharing expertise with Malawian weather forecasters

September 3, 2026

| No Comments

| Agriculture, Business, National, News

* With El Niño conditions forecast this year, the partnership matters more than ever to help turn weather forecasts into early, practical action * As Ministry of Natural Resources & Climate Change urges all stakeholders to use the 2026/2027 Seasonal Rainfall Forecast to strengthen preparedness and reduce the impact of climate related shocks * “A strong El Niño should not be met with despair but should be a call to readiness”—Minister Patricia Wiskes By Duncan Mlanjira, Maravi Express &…

The 2026/2027 rainfall outlook indicates high chance of below-normal rainfall over most areas of Southern and Central Regions

September 2, 2026

| No Comments

| Agriculture, Business, National, News

* While normal to above-normal rainfall is expected over much of Northern Region — Department of Climate Change & Meteorological Services Climate By Duncan Mlanjira The Department of Climate Change & Meteorological Services Climate (DCCMS) forecasts that the 2026/2027 rainfall outlook for October-November-December (OND), indicates high chance of below-normal rainfall over most areas of Southern and Central Regions — while normal to above-normal rainfall is expected over much of North (Map 1 above). In its 2026/2027 Climate Outlook for…

Tobacco’s forex earnings trail 2025 season by US$218 million

September 1, 2026

| No Comments

| Agriculture, Business, National, News

* The average price also fell to US$1.98 per kilogramme from US$2.54 per kilogramme during the comparable period last year * 142.4 million kilogrammes of tobacco had been sold, down from 197.2 million kilogrammes sold at the same stage of the 2025 marketing season By Khumbo Msambala Salanje & Roy Howa, Malawi News Agency (MANA) Malawi’s tobacco industry has earned US$282.5 million after 19 weeks of trading in the 2026 marketing season, which is US$217.9 million below the US$500.4…