Malawi seeks K4 trillion to give mega farms boost

Malawi Government says it is seeking $2.4 billion (about K4 trillion) from the private sector and development partners to invest on its 470 000 irrigable hectares under mega-farms initiatives.

During her presentation yesterday at the 2026 Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, Rwanda on Malawi Mega Farm Legacy Investment Programme, Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Roza Fatch Mbilizi said that government is spearheading investment-driven agricultural transformation to improve productivity, food security and commercialisation.

Mbilizi (L) in talks with potential investors after her presentation. | Temwa Mhone

She said this is the time for investors to capitalise on the country’s export potential that is not fully tapped.

Said Mbilizi: “There is low domestic food production which makes the country not to meet the export demand. For instance, we export groundnuts worth $20.9 million instead of $1.6 billion; soybean is $33 million instead of $253 million, and rice is $0.35 million instead of $3.6 billion. These are some of the opportunities for investors to explore as the initiative is also expected to generate 389 476 direct jobs for our people.”

Civil Society Agriculture Network director Elizabeth Namaona commended the ministry for the initiative that will create more jobs, transform and commercialise agriculture through utilisation of idle arable land.

She said: “Investment in our agriculture sector will promote overall development of our country, whose economy relies on agriculture. As civil society organisations, we are pleased that the ministry is pitching the mega farm programme to international investors for the needed funds.”

One of the investors, Reinke head of strategic partnerships and government affairs Fanie du Toit, assured the minister of mobilising resources to boost Malawi’s agriculture export.

Agra Malawi director Eluphy Nyirenda said they are committed to helping Malawi develop programmes and effectively present itself as an agriculture investment destination.