With chemical fertiliser prices out of reach for most smallholder farmers, many have turned to organic alternatives as a cheaper option. But soil scientists and industry players say organic products on their own are unlikely to close the country’s persistent food gap and could even make matters worse if left unregulated. Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) soil science professor Patson Nalivata said in an interview that while organic fertilisers play an important role in restoring soil health, stressed that they cannot meet the full nutrient demands of staple crops such as maize, which feeds the majority of Malawians.
“Organic fertilisers are not consistent in nutrient content because they do not contain fixed primary nutrients,” Nalivata said. “Most organic products contain as little as two percent nitrogen compared with 46 percent in chemical urea. With such a difference, you cannot expect good harvests because crops are deprived of required nutrients.” Nalivata cautioned against portraying organic fertilisers as a silver bullet while chemical fertilisers are portrayed as soil-destroying.
He recommended blending organic and inorganic fertilisers to improve both soil health and yields, citing Bokashi-style products that combine organic matter with targeted inorganic inputs. The Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) acknowledges the challenge of regulating organic fertilisers. MBS deputy director of quality assurance Demester Kumvenji said the bureau is developing guidelines for a range of organic products and is monitoring markets to protect farmers from fake or substandard fertilisers.
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He added that MBS is currently on the ground monitoring the market to protect farmers from fake fertilisers. Alifosina Banda from Zulu Village in Traditional Authority Njewa in Lilongwe said she stopped using chemical fertiliser three years ago because prices were unattainable and the products were often mixed with fake fertilisers. Banda, who uses manure said although organic fertiliser is cheaper, the output is slightly lower compared to what she harvested when using chemical fertiliser.
“With the high prices, I can only use organic fertiliser. The soil looks better and holds water but the maize cobs are smaller than when I used chemical fertiliser. Nevertheless, this is the only option I have.
I produce the fertiliser myself and apply it which is cheaper than buying,” said Banda. One of the organic fertiliser producers in Lilongwe, Clement Taonani admitted that the market is flooded with unregulated organic fertilisers that may pose a threat to the country’s soils and food security. Taonani, who produces biochar fertiliser, said the process of producing a well-balanced organic fertilizer requires rigorous procedures and careful examination.
“The biggest challenge in Malawi is standardisation. Most organic fertilisers produced in the country are not regulated because the regulator lacks international standards. Only a few producers follow ISO standards in fertiliser production.
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