in the 2019/2020 National Budget, government allocated K1.8 billion for improved legume production, but the Legumes Development Trust (LDT) has called for more investments in the legume sector to improve livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

“The legumes industry is in its infant stage, as much as we appreciate the initiative and recognition by government, we say K1.8 billion is not enough.” said LDT chairperson responsible for value chain and markets Vincent Mpaluko.

On the other hand, figures from the International Trade Centre (ITC) show that legumes exports have been declining since 2015, as by then, $58.5 million was profited in legume exports which has gradually lowered over the years, to $15.8 million in 2018. The results in 2018 are appalling as in the same year,   lucrative markets were found for the crops in Asia, Middle East, Africa and the United Kingdom (UK). Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (Mitc)—the country’s one-stop investment and trade centre— and AHL Commodities Exchange (AHXC), said they had identified markets for pigeon peas, soy beans, groundnuts (Chalimbana and CG7), sunflower and beans.

As Malawi is being urged to diversify its agricultural output, legumes have a potential to be a cash crop.