Thousands of cotton farmers across Malawi remain unable to sell their produce nearly three weeks after the opening of the 2026 marketing season.
The development, follows the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation’s (Admarc) delay to enter the market due to funding constraints.
The delay has raised concern among growers and industry stakeholders, particularly in districts allocated to the state-owned buyer, where farmers say they are struggling to access income needed to purchase food and meet other household needs.
Cotton Farmers Association (Cofa) chief executive officer Synoden Mbalafama said Admarc’s absence is undermining competition in the market and affecting price stability.
“Admarc’s participation is critical because of its purchasing capacity and its ability to drive prices above the minimum farmgate price. Any delays affect competition and ultimately disadvantage farmers,” he said.
Mbalafama said Admarc is responsible for purchasing cotton in several key growing areas, including Karonga, Nsanje, Chikwawa, Mwanza, Phalombe and parts of Nkhotakota, Balaka and Neno, leaving many farmers with few alternatives.
He said the association has engaged the Cotton Council of Malawi and appealed for urgent government intervention, noting that Admarc’s market entry depends on funding from the Treasury.
Cotton Council of Malawi executive director Apatsa Selemani confirmed that Admarc has not yet commenced purchases but indicated that the corporation expects to begin buying cotton next week once the required funds are released.
The corporation is reportedly awaiting disbursement from the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development.
Meanwhile, the three other licensed buyers have already entered the market and are purchasing cotton at the government-approved minimum farmgate price of K1,500 per kilogramme.
The 2026 cotton marketing season opened on May 25 and is expected to run for 90 days across 50 designated markets nationwide. Production is projected at 22,894 metric tonnes, more than double last year’s output of 10,000 metric tonnes.
