The Effects of Not Using Subsidy Fertilizer on Smallholder Farmers in T/A Kalolo

 The Effects of Not Using Subsidy Fertilizer on Smallholder Farmers in T/A Kalolo

“We watched our crops dry, not because of the sun, but because we couldn’t afford fertilizer,” says Martha Chisale, a smallholder farmer from Chikole Village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Kalolo in Lilongwe District. Her voice, laced with frustration and helplessness, reflects the quiet suffering of many smallholder farmers left out of Malawi’s fertilizer subsidy program during the 2023/24 growing season.

In a country where over 80% of people depend on farming, the removal or reduction of fertilizer subsidies has deeply shaken rural communities. This story focuses on the far-reaching impact of that absence in T/A Kalolo — where farmers face a harsh agricultural season without the lifeline of subsidized inputs.

A Region Rooted in Farming

T/A Kalolo is a fertile part of Lilongwe, where most residents rely on subsistence farming for their livelihood. Here, maize is not just food; it is security, school fees, and a pathway to a better life. For over a decade, smallholder farmers have depended on government-subsidized fertilizer under the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP), now the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP).

But recent economic strain and program restructuring have meant a sharp reduction in the number of beneficiaries. Many families who once received inputs now face the season empty-handed — and it shows in their fields.

What Happens When the Help Stops

In Chiwamba Village, crops are yellowing prematurely. The soil, once nurtured by fertilizer, lies exhausted. The high cost of commercial fertilizer — over MK75,000 per 50kg bag — has priced out most rural farmers.

“We applied compost manure, but it is not the same,” says Bright Kamwendo, a father of six. “Maize doesn't grow well without chemical fertilizer, especially on land that has been used for years.”

In previous seasons, Bright harvested around 20 bags of maize. This year, he expects just six — not enough to last his family until the next harvest.

Faces of Struggle

The story is the same across much of T/A Kalolo. Agnes Dzonzi, a 17-year-old secondary school student, now skips school regularly to help her mother search for food. “We used to sell maize to buy notebooks. This year, there’s nothing to sell,” she says.

Their household, once a quiet beneficiary of the subsidy, was excluded this year. The maize field Agnes points to — thin stalks barely waist-high — is a stark contrast to the robust green canopy it usually is by mid-season.

Village headman GVH Nguludi explains, “Our people feel abandoned. This is not just about farming — it affects children’s education, health, and dignity. Families are borrowing just to eat.”

Local Responses and Community Resilience

In response to the crisis, some farmers are turning to alternative methods. Compost manure and organic fertilizers are being promoted by agricultural extension officers, but these methods are labor-intensive and not always practical for elderly farmers or those lacking livestock.

NGOs like Green Fields Malawi have stepped in with pilot training programs on composting and agroecology. However, uptake is slow due to limited reach and deep-rooted dependence 

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