Malawi is unprepared for the upcoming planting season, with limited fertilizer stocks and the procurement of other farming inputs “dangerously” behind schedule, President Peter Mutharika told an International Monetary Fund delegation on Thursday.
Mutharika made the rare public admission as he laid out a string of economic pressures that he said have constrained the government’s ability to mount an adequate agricultural response: a foreign‑exchange shortage, unstable fuel supplies and rising debt repayments. He said those conditions make it difficult for the country to service existing debt and to finance timely deliveries of essential inputs for farmers.
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The IMF team, in the capital to assess Malawi’s financial position, is expected to meet a range of stakeholders in coming days as part of efforts to mobilize emergency support for food, fertilizer, foreign exchange and fuel, officials said.
In his briefing, the president emphasized how several intertwined problems are heightening the risk that many smallholder farmers will start the season without adequate seed, fertilizer or fuel for mechanized planting and transport. While he did not provide a timetable for deliveries, the use of the word “dangerously” reflected concern in government circles about the immediacy of the shortfall.
Analysts and donors say delays in procurement and a lack of foreign currency can create cascading effects across the agricultural sector, with missed planting windows translating into lower harvests and elevated food prices. The IMF delegation’s presence signals a priority to assess whether short‑term external assistance or emergency financing can be arranged to avert the worst outcomes.
Key constraints Mutharika cited include:
- Foreign‑exchange shortages that limit the ability to pay for imports;
- Unstable fuel supplies that disrupt planting operations and distribution;
- Rising debt repayments that squeeze public finances and reduce fiscal space for emergency purchases.
Government officials, donor representatives and private suppliers are expected to be part of the discussions as the IMF explores rapid‑response options. Those could include targeted food aid, emergency fertilizer shipments, short‑term balance‑of‑payments support or technical assistance to accelerate procurement.
For millions of Malawians who depend on rain‑fed smallholder agriculture, timely availability of fertilizer and inputs is critical. A failure to secure and distribute supplies before the planting season could heighten food insecurity and place further strain on an already fragile economy.
Further details on any commitments or timelines for assistance were not immediately available. The IMF delegation did not release a statement Thursday.
By News-room
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
