Malawi’s farming community is holding its breath as a recent five-day heatwave has left maize and tobacco crops severely wilted, sparking concerns about the upcoming harvest.
The scorching weather, which began on December 18, has affected most parts of the country, with temperatures soaring as high as 35 degrees Celsius in some areas and reaching a staggering 42 degrees Celsius in parts of the Southern Region.
According to officials from agricultural development divisions and the Farmers Union of Malawi, the heatwave has exacerbated the damage already caused by erratic rainfall since the start of the 2024/25 farming season in November.
The hardest-hit areas include Balaka, Blantyre, Dedza, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Kasungu, Machinga, Mangochi, Mwanza, Neno, Ntcheu, and Nsanje.
Balaka District Commissioner Tamanya Harawa noted that the heatwave has been particularly devastating in his district, which is already prone to low rainfall.
“The situation is dire, especially after the hot weather that followed the rains brought by Cyclone Chido last week,” Harawa said. “We haven’t received any rain in over a week now.”
Local farmer Henderson Yohane expressed concerns that the prolonged heatwave would suck the moisture from the soil, causing his maize crops to wither and die.
“If we don’t receive rain soon, all our maize will start tasselling at knee height next week, resulting in a total loss,” Yohane warned.
Kasungu Agricultural Development Division Programme Manager Yusuf Shaibu reported that over 400,000 farmers in his district have been affected by the heatwave.
“Tobacco farmers have been the hardest hit, as they’ve already transplanted their crops from nurseries, only to see them wither and die in the fields,” Shaibu said.
In the Shire Valley, some maize crops have dried up due to the heat, although sorghum crops remain resilient.
In the Northern Region, Karonga District Director of Agriculture Services Yaz Nyirenda cautioned that the maize crop will perish if the heatwave persists for another five days.
“The situation looks grim, and we must pray for rain this week,” Nyirenda urged.
Farmers Union of Malawi President Mannes Nkhata described the situation as alarming and called on the government and stakeholders to provide support to farmers, including seeds.
“Seed is expensive and scarce, and without support, many farmers will be forced to replant using recycled seeds, which are less productive and prone to disease,” Nkhata warned.
The Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services has predicted that the heatwave will continue until December 23, 2024.
However, MET Chief Lucy Mtilatila forecasted that southern areas of the country can expect cooler temperatures starting December 24, while central and northern areas will remain hot until December 26.
“We anticipate that southern areas will receive rain from December 24, with widespread rainfall expected across the country by December 30,” Mtilatila said.
The 2023/24 farming season was severely impacted by a dry spell induced by El Niño, resulting in a 17% decrease in maize production.
