DCAFS & TIPDeP

1CONTEXT OF THE SOIL HEALTH IN MALAWI

1.1Overview of Soils Health Status in Malawi

Malawi is one of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa with a higher prevalence of soil micronutrient deficiencies. Studies have shown that micronutrient deficiencies are linked to difficult climate conditions and the degraded status of soils. Over 40 percent of Malawi soils are nutrient poor while 75 percent of Malawi soils are degraded. As a result, the crops grown in these soils cannot obtain sufficient nutrients, leading to low crop nutritional value, decreased crop yields, and consequently contributing to micronutrient deficiencies in the population. As such, a paradigm change is needed towards a broader and long-term strategy for agricultural production and food and nutrition security, beyond the mere addition of nutrients through mineral fertilisers. This new strategy must aim for abundant and highly nutritious crops through enhanced soil health and the generalised adoption of Sustainable Soil Management (SSM) practices.

1.2Challenges Impacting Soils in Malawi

The current status of Malawi's soil health is a result of several interconnected challenges that need to be holistically acknowledged, assessed and evaluated:

I. Land Degradation — Malawi experiences high rates of soil erosion and nutrient loss, with topsoil loss exceeding the global average, with 30 tons of topsoil lost per hectare annually, ten times the global average.

II. Nutrient Depletion — Malawi's soil types are naturally low in organic matter and essential nutrients, and unfortunately, unsustainable farming practices have further exacerbated this depletion. On average, Malawi loses more than 30 kg of Nitrogen and 20 kg of Phosphorus per hectare per year through erosion on arable land.

III. Soil Degradation — Unsustainable farming practices, including deforestation, prolonged cultivation, and burning, contribute to soil erosion and degradation.

IV. Climate Change Impacts — Extreme weather events like droughts and floods, as well as changes in temperature and rainfall patterns, further degrade soil quality.

V. Low Soil Organic Matter — Many farms have soil organic matter levels below the critical 2-5 percent range needed for healthy soil function, thus impacting water retention and nutrient availability.

VI. Sandy Soils — A large proportion of Malawi's soils are sandy loams (a mix of sand, silt, and clay), which are prone to nutrient deficiencies and acidity issues, requiring careful management practices.

VII. Soil Acidification — soil pH is declining, particularly in central and southern regions, with levels often below 5.5. This is negatively affecting nutrient availability, which may lead to toxicity.

1.3Soil Health Legislation and Policies in Malawi

Currently, there is no standalone policy for soil health management in Malawi. However, soil health conservation has been largely addressed in various legislations and policies. These include:

1Malawi Action Plan on Fertilisers and Soil Health [2024-2034]

On 20 August 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture launched the Malawi 10-Year Action Plan on Fertilisers and Soil Health [2024-2034]. This action plan outlines the interventions that Malawi plans to undertake within the framework of the African Union Commission's (AUC) 10-year plan of action on fertiliser and soil health. The four key pillars in the Malawi plan to address fertiliser and soil health challenges in Malawi are (a) Soil Health and Fertiliser Reforms, (b) Sustainable Land Use, Soil and Water Conservation, (c) Soil Health Research and Fertiliser Development; and (d) Institutional Development, Capacity Building and Coordination. The total budget of the plan is estimated at US$163.24 million, and implementation involves various ministries and non-state actors.

2National Agriculture Policy (NAP)[2024-2029]

NAP serves as a framework for developing the agriculture sector, aiming to boost production, productivity, and farm incomes. The policy will ensure that the resilience of farmers to climate change shocks and declining soil health is strengthened by: (i) Promoting the use of integrated crop management practices such as Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM), to reduce reliance on chemical solutions; (ii) Supporting recycling of by-products for use as manure, fertilisers, and soil conditioners; and (iii) Promoting mobile plant clinics and soil testing technologies, among others.

3Agriculture Land Resources Management Policy[ALRMP 2024-2029]

The Agriculture Land Resources Management Policy aims to promote sustainable use of agricultural land to boost productivity, enhance climate resilience, and contribute to national food and nutrition security. The policy will ensure that climate resilience is mainstreamed in agricultural land resource management by scaling up the adoption of site-specific, best-practice, integrated soil fertility management technologies among farmers, including women and young people.

4National Agriculture Investment Policy[NAIP 2018-2023]

National Agriculture Investment Policy (NAIP) is the implementation plan for NAP, outlining specific investment priorities and activities such as the refurbishment of soil laboratories and quarantine facilities; integrating grain legumes into cereal farming systems to improve soil fertility management; updating national soil maps; and developing soil moisture management technologies, among others.

5National Environmental Policy[NEP2004]

National Environmental Policy (NEP) seeks to promote efficient natural resource management, enhance ecosystem restoration, increase public awareness, and foster cooperation on environmental issues. Implementation strategies include prioritising watershed management activities, promoting the appropriate use of organic and inorganic fertilisers, and undertaking intensive education and extension programs to encourage community participation. This approach also involves integrating environmental considerations into planning and providing a framework for environmental legislation and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), among other measures.

6National Fertiliser Policy[NFP 2021-2026]

NFP aims to enhance fertiliser accessibility and improve agricultural productivity. The policy emphasises soil testing and fertiliser blending, extension support, and improving fertiliser use and performance. It also seeks to address structural challenges within the fertiliser sector and encourage private investment.

7Fertiliser Act(2022)

This legislation aims to establish a legal framework for regulating the fertiliser industry in Malawi, to ensure the availability of high-quality fertiliser to farmers in the country. Among other things, the Act governs the establishment of the Malawi Fertiliser Regulatory Authority, which will oversee the fertiliser industry, including the registration of fertiliser, and the regulation of manufacturing, production, blending, importation, exportation, and distribution of fertiliser in the country. In addition, the legislation provides a quality control mechanism through the regulation of the establishment and operation of fertiliser manufacturing facilities, producing facilities, and fertiliser testing laboratories.

8Environment Management Act(2014-CAP 60:02)

The Act makes provision for the protection and management of the environment and the conservation and sustainable utilization of natural resources. The legislation promotes soil health, protects water resources and the ecosystem. The Act covers a wide range of topics, including environmental planning, impact assessments, quality standards, pollution control, and the establishment of an Environmental Fund.

2ACTIONS TAKEN AND LESSONS LEARNED BY DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS

2.1Actions Taken in Supporting Soil Health

As of June 2025, the DCAFS database shows a total of US$371.92 million in DP funding for soil health initiatives and related research. The table below presents key soil health initiatives:

No	Development Partner	Project	Overall Budget(US$ million)	Project Details
1	African Development Bank(AfDB)	Multinational Strengthening Transboundary Cooperation and Integrated Natural Resources Management Project[2019-2025]	6.39	Watershed management in the Songwe River Basin
2	Embassy of Ireland	Growth Poles Project[2023-2029]	9.45	Soil and water conservation[project component]
3	International Fund for Agricultural Development(IFAD)	PRIDE[2016-2030]	84.00	Development and empowerment of Water User Associations; support soil and water conservation[project component]
4	World Bank	Malawi Food Systems Resilient Project(MFSRP-AGCOM 2.0)[2023-2029]	265.00	Soil Health Pilot[project component]
5	EU Delegation	DeSIRA[2019-2024]	7.08	Climate-smart innovations to improve productivity, profitability, and sustainability of agriculture and food systems in Malawi through multidisciplinary research
Estimated Total Investment			371.92

Source: DCAFS Database, June 2025

Under the Agriculture Sector MIP-1 of the Mw2063 priority areas, Development Partners have allocated 35.3 percent(US$571.86 million) to agriculture diversification and 14.4 percent(US$233.28 million) towards irrigation development. These priority areas are crucial to soil health management. The DCAFS Chair, in her statement on behalf of the DCAFS at the launch of the Malawi 10-Year Action Plan on Fertilisers and Soil Health, underscored that the current DCAFS support for Agriculture is solid and well-aligned with sustainable land and water conservation.

Development Partners have demonstrated commitment to supporting soil health management by implementing various initiatives in projects, which include the following:

Soil and Water Conservation— Practices like terracing, contour ploughing, and water harvesting are being promoted to reduce erosion and improve water infiltration;
Organic Matter Management— Farmers are encouraged to use compost, manure, and cover crops to improve soil fertility and structure;
Crop Rotation— Rotating crops, including legumes, to help with improving soil fertility and reducing pests and diseases;
Integrated Soil Fertility Management— practices such as combining organic and inorganic fertilisers are being promoted to enhance nutrient use efficiency;
Biochar(charcoal produced from biomass)— to improve soil fertility and water retention;
Participatory Landscape Management— approaches that involve communities in planning and implementing soil and water conservation measures are being adopted;
Policy and Institutional Support— efforts are underway to strengthen policies and institutions that support sustainable land management practices;
Community-based initiatives— restoring soil and water resources in communities is being undertaken through initiatives like watershed restoration.

3ROLLING TALKING POINTS

The Rolling Talking Points, by the Development Partners, aims to communicate key messages to the government, which include applauding the government for undertaking regulatory reforms and asking it to address regulatory barriers and practices to accelerate sector performance.

A. APPLAUD

DCAFS would like to applaud the Government on the following:

I. Malawi Action Plan on Fertilisers and Soil Health[2024-2034]:The development of the Fertiliser and Soil Health-Malawi 10-Year Action Plan(2024-2034) is timely to ensure coordinated implementation of interventions in addressing poor soil health conditions in Malawi. The plan is crucial for sustainable agriculture and environmental well-being, thereby leading to increased crop yields, reduced input costs, and enhanced resilience to climate change.

II. Malawi 2063 Pillars:Under Pillar 1, Agricultural Productivity and Commercialisation, there is mention of improving sustainable land management practices. The Government has demonstrated its commitment to promoting soil and water conservation, improving soil fertility, and adopting conservation agriculture and agroforestry, all of which are underpinned by a strong land tenure system.

B. CONCERNS AND ENCOURAGEMENT

DCAFS would like to bring to the Government's attention the following concerns and recommendations:

I. Policy and Regulatory Environment:

It is a concern that Malawi has a strong track record for formulating sound policies and legislative frameworks; nonetheless, implementation is hindered by budgetary shortfalls, limited human resource capacity, and long procedural delays. The DCAFS, therefore, urges governments to ensure the implementation of the Soil Health Action Plan through fostering an enabling policy and market environment for soil health technologies, providing technical and financial assistance for sustainable practices, and promoting community engagement and peer learning.
The government should ensure significant investment in improved integrated planning and management of soil health interventions across agricultural sub-sectors to support increased production. In addition, considerable investment is required to enhance capacities in the country in soil and fertiliser analysis, soil mapping and monitoring.

II. Inorganic Fertiliser Application and Poor Practices:

The continuous application of inorganic fertilisers has created the threat of soil acidification, a process that lowers the capacity of soils to readily release their essential nutrient content to plants.
Together with the current estimated soil loss rate of over 30 tons/hectare/year, soil acidification has brought added impacts to the agrarian economy of Malawi. There is a need for targeted actions and research to support agricultural policies on soil health management. Most fertiliser recommendations are primarily based on plant nutrient requirements, failing to consider soil conditions and abilities. This calls for a shift from focusing solely on plant nutrient requirements to emphasising soil health.

III. Research and Innovation:

The plan calls for the development of new fertiliser technologies but does not outline a research agenda nor identify strategic partnerships. It is therefore necessary to define priority research areas(e.g., biofertilizers, climate-smart technologies, micronutrient blends) and consider establishing a national research consortium with dedicated funding mechanisms.
In addition, some work is needed to assemble already existing pieces of soil information and support the development of a national soil information service for Malawi.

IV. Private Sector Engagement:

The private sector plays a crucial role in promoting soil health by developing and providing innovative technologies, investing in regenerative agriculture practices, offering financial and market-based incentives for farmers, and supporting digital tools. It is therefore important to define specific incentives and risk-sharing mechanisms to encourage private sector investment in soil health management.
The good practices to incentivise the private sector players include Public-Private Partnership(PPP) models, tax incentives, and matching grants to attract investment in local inorganic and organic fertiliser production and distribution.

V. Sustainable ISFM Implementation:

Sustainable Integrated Soil Fertility Management implementation remains critical in view of the required long-term impact. The government aims to ensure sustainable implementation through policy alignment, enhanced agricultural extension services, public-private partnerships, strategic targeted subsidies and fostering a holistic, context-specific, and integrated approach to soil management.
The Integrated Soil Fertility Management practices should be tailored to each region, with extension support models and incentives to encourage farmer adoption.