24/09/2026
Government launches 2026/27 FISP
Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Roza Fatch Mbilizi has launched the 2026/27 Farm Inputs Subsidy Programme (FISP), targeting 1,221,862 resource-constrained smallholder maize farmers across the country.
Mbilizi launched the programme on Thursday at Kalira 1 Primary School Ground in Traditional Authority Vuso Jere, Ntchisi District, where she said timely access to agricultural inputs was critical for farmers to make effective use of the rainfall and improve production during the 2026/27 farming season.
She said the programme goes beyond the distribution of subsidised inputs, as Government has introduced reforms aimed at improving efficiency, transparency, accountability, farmer ownership and sustainability in the implementation of FISP.
One of the key reforms is the strengthened role of Farmer Organisations, which will serve as the primary channel for beneficiary identification and input distribution.
Mbilizi said the approach would strengthen collective action among farmers, improve efficiency and enhance accountability at community level.
“We want farmers to move beyond being passive recipients of Government support. We want farmers to become organised, informed and increasingly capable of participating in agricultural programmes and markets collectively,” she said.
The Minister also highlighted the introduction of Mbeya organic fertiliser production alongside sustainable land management practices as another major reform under the 2026/27 FISP.
She said the reform seeks to address rising costs of inorganic fertiliser and challenges associated with low organic matter in soils, which affect nutrient use efficiency.
Mbilizi said the reform was also important in strengthening the resilience of the country's agriculture sector against potential climate shocks, including the threat of a mega El Niño.
Under the programme, beneficiary farmers will work in pairs to produce Mbeya organic fertiliser, with each pair expected to produce five bags of basal and five bags of top-dressing fertiliser, with technical support from extension workers.
The programme will also promote One-One planting, commonly known as Sasakawa, and other good agricultural practices aimed at improving plant population, productivity and efficient use of agricultural inputs.
Mbilizi said the choice of Ntchisi for the national launch was deliberate because the area is among places where rainfall tends to start relatively early, making timely access to inputs particularly important.
She called on farmers, traditional leaders, Farmer Organisations, extension workers, district councils, development partners, the private sector and Government institutions to work together to ensure that the programme achieves its intended objectives.
“Let us ensure that every input reaches the intended farmer. Let us ensure that every farmer uses the inputs productively. And let us ensure that the Programme contributes meaningfully to the transformation of Malawi’s agriculture,” she said.
Mbilizi commended the Ministry's technical teams, district councils, extension workers, Farmer Organisations, development partners and other stakeholders for their contribution towards preparations for the 2026/27 farming season.
She urged farmers to work towards increasing production, protecting soils, strengthening Farmer Organisations and improving the livelihoods of farming households.
LaunchesFISP
