Malawi’s legume sector set for boost

Malawi’s legume sector is expected to improve as new technologies, farming practices and solutions are being tested to improve crop varieties, treatment and production.

The technologies are being tested by stakeholders in the legume sector with the aim of finding more effective ways of improving the quality and productivity of legume crops in the country.

This comes as the country’s legume sector continues to face challenges, partly due to the use of low-yielding seed varieties and poor farming practices, which affect crop productivity and the overall value chain.

Technologies and practices such as high-yielding seeds, inoculants, improved fertilisers, better agronomic practices and cost-effective production solutions are being tested to provide practical solutions for both commercial and smallholder farmers.

The technologies were showcased during the 2026 Legume Tour, supported by Ireland and Palladium in collaboration with other stakeholders and sponsored by Standard Bank.

The tour brought together farmers, researchers, agribusinesses, investors, policymakers and development partners from Malawi and beyond.

The programme included field demonstrations and conference discussions aimed at sharing knowledge and exploring opportunities for strengthening the country’s legume sector.

Brady: there is significant export potential

Speaking to Malawi24, Ambassador of Ireland to Malawi, Her Excellency Kate Hayes Brady, said the innovations and practices have the potential to transform Malawi’s legume sector and create opportunities on both local and international markets.

“There is significant export potential in these legumes, and locally people can benefit. For example, soy has protein and oil, so it has huge potential for nutrition and food security here,” said Brady.

Brady commended the innovations but expressed concern over the low adoption of the technologies among farmers.

She said she hoped the tour would help reach more farmers with information about the technologies and encourage them to adopt the new practices to improve legume production.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Roza Fatchi Mbilizi commended the technologies and innovations, describing them as key to transforming Malawi’s legume production sector.

She said adopting the technologies would help farmers increase production and enable Malawi to produce the large volumes of legumes required to meet demand on local and international markets.

According to Mbilizi, the government is working to strengthen the dissemination of information on new methods and innovations to encourage farmers to adopt the technologies.

She said the government would also work with researchers and other stakeholders to ensure that technologies developed through research are made available and put into use by farmers, while investing in their adoption.

Kotze: We are committed

Leon Kotze, Head of Agribusiness Specialization at Standard Bank Group, said the bank is committed to supporting the growth of agriculture in Malawi, describing the sector as a key pillar of the country’s economy.

He said Standard Bank would continue supporting initiatives aimed at improving agricultural productivity, innovation and investment in the sector.

“Agriculture is fundamental to your economy in Africa, as it supports every basic need,” said Kotze.