The Government of Malawi convened the 2024/25 Agriculture Joint Sector Review (JSR) on 23 January at the Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe, bringing together government ministries, development partners, researchers, private‑sector actors, and farmer representatives. As the country’s central platform for agricultural policy dialogue, the JSR provides an annual opportunity to collectively assess progress, review priority challenges, and strengthen coordination across the agriculture sector.
The discussions in the meeting, which was held under the theme “Agriculture financing- A catalyst for Resilient and Sustainable Agrifood Systems”, emphasized accountability, evidence‑based decision‑making, and greater alignment of investments to national priorities. IFPRI participated as a key evidence partner, with Research Fellow Jan Duchoslav presenting insights on Malawi’s agricultural transformation pathways.
Opening Remarks: A Call for Practical and Transformative Action
In her address, the Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Hon. Roza Fatch Mbilizi, urged stakeholders to focus on practical strategies that address Malawi’s socio‑economic challenges through meaningful agricultural transformation. She underscored that while agriculture remains the backbone of the national economy, contributing roughly 22 percent to GDP, its performance has lagged behind potential in recent years. She attributed this to climate‑related shocks, limited access to quality inputs, and low levels of mechanisation, all of which continue to undermine productivity and resilience. The Minister emphasized the need for increased and smarter financing, noting that sustained investments are essential for building resilient and sustainable agri‑food systems.
Representing the Donor Committee on Agriculture and Food Security (DCAFS), IFAD Country Director Bernadette Mukonyora highlighted that development partners currently support 77 agriculture projects across Malawi. She stressed the importance of assessing whether these investments are delivering the transformation expected, especially given the sector’s continued fragility despite ongoing interventions.
IFPRI Presentation: Rethinking Pathways for Agricultural Transformation
During the technical sessions, IFPRI Research Fellow Jan Duchoslav delivered a presentation titled “Transforming Agriculture for Development in Malawi.” Drawing on recent analytical work, he highlighted several structural challenges hindering Malawi’s food systems transformation.
The presentation addressed persistent misconceptions, such as the belief that subsistence farming can secure national food security or that discretionary market interventions stabilize markets and contrasted these with empirical evidence. Duchoslav demonstrated that most Malawian households do not produce enough maize to meet their consumption needs even in good years, with 2–5 million people requiring food assistance annually. He further showed how shrinking farm sizes, volatile and unpredictable markets, and Malawi’s prolonged macroeconomic crisis constrain farmers’ ability to commercialize and diversify. For instance, he illustrated how an overvalued kwacha implicitly taxes exporters, undermining competitiveness. The presentation concluded with policy recommendations calling for land consolidation, rules‑based market governance, realistic exchange rate policy, and incentives that support diversification beyond maize
Other Presentations and Discussions
Beyond IFPRI’s contribution, the agenda featured an update on recommendations from the previous JSR, the 2024/25 Agriculture Sector Performance Report, updates on value chain investment opportunities from MwAPATA Institute, and findings from a CARD study that evaluated a government soil health pilot project, followed by plenary discussions among participants.
Conclusion
The 2024/25 Joint Sector Review reaffirmed Malawi’s commitment to evidence‑based, collaborative, and results‑oriented agricultural sector planning. IFPRI’s contribution, through data‑driven analysis and policy insights, continues to support national efforts to address structural constraints and unlock more resilient and sustainable agricultural growth. With renewed calls for practical strategies, better financing, and stronger coordination, the JSR sets a clear direction for the sector’s priorities in the year ahead.
Read and download IFPRI's presentation here (PDF 346 KB).
