Malawi’s Legume Harvest Plummets – Here’s What It Means for Your Business
Key Business Points
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Malawi’s legumes and oilseeds production dropped sharply in the 2024-25 season, with groundnuts falling 40.7%, cotton down 55.5%, and soya beans declining 23.4%—posing risks to agri-sector diversification and export potential.
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Government policy heavily favors maize, allocating nearly K300 billion of the K931.1 billion 2026/27 agriculture budget toward maize subsidies, purchases, and irrigation development.
- Only sesame showed growth among legumes and oilseeds, rising 13.9% due to improved seeds, better prices, and favorable weather—suggesting missed opportunities in other high-value crops.
Malawi registered a sharp decline in legumes and oilseeds production in the 2024-25 farming season, with groundnut output dropping 40.7%, cotton falling 55.5%, and soya bean production down 23.4%, according to the 2026 Malawi Government Annual Economic Report. Beans production fell 17.4% and cowpeas declined 20.8%.
Despite government efforts to diversify agriculture beyond maize, the downturn threatens Malawi’s push to strengthen export-oriented crops and reduce reliance on maize, the country’s staple. In contrast, cereal crops—mainly maize—grew by 5.4% due to higher input uptake, favorable prices, and good weather. The increased focus on maize is reflected in the 2026/27 national budget, which allocates nearly K300 billion for maize-related interventions out of the sector’s K931.1 billion total.
Agricultural policy expert Leonard Chimwaza blamed the decline on policy shifts prioritizing maize in the past five years, saying most programs have neglected legumes. Manual labor costs and slow adoption of improved technologies have left these crops vulnerable to pests and disease, lowering yields. Another expert, Tamani Nkhono Mvula, cited unfavorable weather and a farming shift toward maize due to the government’s Mega Farms initiative. He stressed the need to promote legumes because of their strong links to other industries like animal feed and cooking oils.
Sesame was the notable exception, increasing by 13.9%, thanks to favorable weather, attractive prices, and availability of improved seed varieties. Experts see this as proof that supporting quality inputs and market connections can lift other legumes and oilseeds. Economics Association of Malawi President Bertha Chikalimba highlighted the urgent need to scale up irrigation and water management to reduce dependence on rain-fed farming and stabilize production in drought years.
The situation underscores both the economic risks of over-reliance on maize and the missed export earnings from crops like groundnuts, cotton, and soybeans that could drive growth if properly supported. Business owners and investors should watch for signs the government will broaden agricultural incentives beyond maize and consider opportunities in processing or exporting Malawi’s under-produced legumes and oilseeds when policy begins to shift.
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