Ministry of Agriculture Directors endorse two drafts: The National Fertilizer Policy and the Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Strategy

FSP NAPAS: Malawi has been responsible for the drafting of the National Fertilizer Policy since 2015, as well as for providing technical and financial support to the Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Strategy.

NFP and AgFNS-July2018-Signature-Cropped
Photo: Research and Policy Analyst for NAPAS: Malawi, Zephania Nyirenda (standing) making the presentation. Photo by Paida Mpaso

Malawi's Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development (MoAIWD) has endorsed the National Fertilizer Policy (NFP) draft and the Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Strategy (AFNS) at an internal validation meeting held on July 17, 2018. 11 out of 12 Departments within the Ministry were represented. FSP Napas: Malawi has been responsible for the drafting of the National Fertilizer Policy since 2015. Napas: Malawi has also provided technical and financial support to the AFNS.

This endorsement means the drafts are now ready for submission to the Office of the President and Cabinet, (OPC). The NFP is proposing use of soil testing, soil mapping and fertilizer blending within Malawi as part of the solution for improving fertilizer performance. The Policy is also proposing increasing access to high quality fertilizers by farmers (for all crops), mostly through commercial suppliers, in line with the commercialization focus of the National Agriculture Policy.

The AFNS will guide implementation of food and nutrition activities within the agriculture sector as outlined in several national development documents such as the National Agriculture Policy, the National Agricultural Investment Plan, the National Multisectoral Nutrition Policy and the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy III, among others.

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