Malawi’s push to modernise agriculture and reduce post-harvest losses is increasingly exposing weaknesses in how agricultural services are delivered and coordinated across the country.
At the centre of this effort is the AGRA-supported REGAIN Programme, a post-harvest loss reduction initiative aimed at strengthening climate resilience and improving smallholder farmer livelihoods through improved storage technologies, training, and market linkages. While the programme is introducing practical solutions, it is also highlighting gaps in the systems required to sustain them.
Agriculture Extension Methodologies Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, Agnes Lungu, pointed to one of those gaps during a field media visit organised by AGRA Malawi, where journalists interacted with farmers benefiting from REGAIN interventions.
Lungu: its discouraging
She expressed concern over inconsistent extension service delivery, warning that weak field presence is undermining agricultural transformation.
“It is discouraging to see some extension workers receiving monthly salaries even though they do not meet farmers for an entire month,” she said.
The REGAIN Programme-Post-Harvest Loss Reduction for Improved Farmer Livelihoods in Malawi-is funded by AGRA and implemented by NASFAM and Opportunity International Malawi in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and other partners. It is being implemented in Lilongwe, Mchinji, South Mzimba, and Nkhotakota districts, targeting about 76,400 smallholder farmers.
The programme promotes Food Loss Reduction Solutions aimed at addressing persistent post-harvest challenges such as poor storage, inadequate drying practices, pest infestation, and limited access to appropriate technologies.
These factors contribute to losses estimated at up to 30 percent of harvested produce.
Key interventions include mechanised shellers, tarpaulins for safe drying, hermetic storage technologies such as PICS bags, and strengthened agro-dealer networks to improve access to equipment and inputs.
AGRA Executive Director Eluphy Nyirenda said the programme is designed to promote sustainability through a 30 percent subsidy on equipment, alongside training, maintenance support, and warranties.
She said the approach is intended to build farmer ownership through cooperatives, rather than reliance on full donor support.
One of the NASFAM officials, Lloyd Phiphira note that many post-harvest losses are driven by long-standing practices such as manual shelling, poor drying methods, and inadequate storage structures that expose grain to moisture and pests.
However, the effectiveness of these interventions depends heavily on extension services that guide farmers in adopting and sustaining improved practices. Where these services are weak, implementation slows.
Farmers also continue to face challenges beyond post-harvest handling. In Thawale EPA, delayed seed distribution remains a persistent concern, disrupting planting cycles and reducing yields.
Group Village Head Kambani Zithe said late delivery often forces farmers to replant or results in complete crop failure.
Despite these challenges, uptake of REGAIN-supported technologies is growing, supported by community radio campaigns and field sensitisation efforts.
Project Officer Hopekins Mwanza said awareness levels are rising across implementation districts, with farmers responding positively to the interventions.
Lead farmer Brenda Barton said mechanised shelling has significantly reduced labour demands and improved efficiency.
“We now shell maize in days instead of weeks or months, which allows us to focus on other farming activities,” she said.
Still, a gap remains between innovation and delivery. While REGAIN is helping reduce post-harvest losses, broader weaknesses in extension services and input distribution continue to limit system-wide impact.
Until these structural issues are addressed, Malawi’s agricultural reforms risk remaining fragmented rather than fully integrated across the value chain.
