By Edwin Mauluka

With the window for fertiliser application for rain-fed crops rapidly closing, the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development has deployed the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) to help deliver inputs to hard-to-reach areas under the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP).

The ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Salome Gangire, told The Forum that the decision follows challenges with private transporters who have declined to deliver inputs to some rural areas due to poor road conditions.

“The main challenge has been transportation of inputs to hard-to-reach areas, particularly where private transporters are unwilling to operate because of poor roads,” Gangire said.

She attributed the situation to the low redemption rate of inputs by programme beneficiaries. As of 6 January 2026, a total of 583,485 beneficiaries had redeemed their inputs out of a targeted 1.1 million. These include 223,931 male-headed households and 359,554 female-headed households.

Gangire said distribution of urea fertiliser has been intensified as most crops have now reached the top-dressing stage.

“Government has now deployed MDF trucks to support delivery of inputs in hard-to-reach areas,” she said. “It is government’s desire that all 1.1 million FISP beneficiaries redeem their inputs, and we hope they will all access them.”

Race against time: Malawi deploys military to deliver fertiliser as FISP lags MediaGov — *MDF soldiers offload fertiliser bags in a race to reach hard-to-access farming communities as the FISP distribution window narrows.*

She added that the date for completing the sale of FISP inputs will be announced soon.

Commenting on the progress of the programme, agricultural policy expert Dr Tamani Nkhono-Mvula warned that the current redemption levels offer little hope for a successful agricultural season.

“The current picture of fertiliser redemption doesn’t offer much hope because the rate is just around 50 percent or slightly above,” Nkhono-Mvula said. “This is already mid-January, and it is unclear how far government can go to ensure all beneficiaries are reached.”

He explained that the maize crop is already moving beyond the stage for effective application of NPK fertiliser, and further delays could render its use ineffective.

“If NPK is no longer effective, then applying urea may be pointless and a waste of resources,” he cautioned.

Nkhono-Mvula said once maize starts tasselling, fertiliser application “no longer makes sense” because most physiological changes in the plant have already occurred.

“It is therefore critical that government acts decisively if it wants to reach the remaining 50 percent,” he said. “The process must be expedited so that, within the next two weeks, everyone is covered. Otherwise, we risk losing a lot.”

On the transportation challenges, he noted that heavy rainfall this season has made access to remote areas even more difficult.

“For example, parts of the Northern Region are virtually cut off. With the current state of our roads, reaching all areas will be extremely difficult,” he said.

Looking ahead, Nkhono-Mvula proposed that government should consider making the subsidy programme perennial rather than seasonal.

“There should be no cut-off point. Distribution should continue throughout the year so farmers can choose when to buy and apply fertiliser, whether for rain-fed or irrigation farming,” he said.

He added that a year-round programme would reduce logistical challenges caused by rains that often damage road networks.

“It should never reach a point where redemption doors are closed,” he said. “The annual cycle of planning and re-planning makes logistics unnecessarily difficult. A perennial approach would be far more effective in the long run.”

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