By Wendy Mkandawire
Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Water Development has warned farmers against the rising circulation of counterfeit and substandard fertilizers, stating that these fake products could damage crop yields and cause soil degradation.
In a press statement dated July 30, 2026, Secretary for Agriculture Erica Maganga stated that the Department of Agricultural Research Services (DARS) has identified more than 600 fertilizer products packaged in ETG bags that are circulating in the market.
Maganga expressed concern that fake fertilizer is currently flourishing and appealed to the general public to be alert.
To protect themselves, she urged farmers to buy fertilizers only from licensed agro-dealers and to verify that the packaging bears the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) certification mark, registration number, batch number, and manufacturing and expiry dates.
She also advised farmers to avoid cheap products or those with poor-quality packaging.
The Ministry said it has intensified inspections and enforcement operations and will take legal action against individuals and organizations involved in the production, distribution, or sale of counterfeit fertilizers.
Meanwhile, the Ministry has appealed to members of the public to report any suspected counterfeit fertilizer products to the relevant authorities.
