SAPP II

98,000 / 39,894
Farming Household Target vs Reached
490,000 / 199,469
Small Holders Target vs Reached
4
Districts Covered
7
Years of Implementation

Components/Outcomes and Activities

1

Increased smallholder productivity and climate resilience

SAPP II is increasing smallholder productivity, food security, and climate resilience by promoting market-oriented crop and livestock production systems, strengthening value chains, and supporting sustainable natural resource management. The programme is enhancing climate-smart and nutrition-sensitive agriculture through research, Farmer Field Schools, digitized extension services, adaptive technologies, and gender-transformative approaches that improve farmers’ access to knowledge, inputs, and markets. SAPP II is also supporting sustainable soil, land, and water management practices such as agroforestry, soil fertility improvement, composting, and efficient energy technologies to strengthen ecosystem services and reduce farmers’ vulnerability to climate- related shocks.

2

Commercialization of smallholder farming systems promotedPractices

SAPP II is strengthening farmer organizations and market integration by supporting producer groups with training, business development services, value addition, quality control, financial literacy, and improved access to value chain financing and market opportunities. The programme is promoting stronger market linkages through production planning, aggregation, contract farming, value addition, and multi-stakeholder platforms that connect farmers with buyers, agribusinesses, and other value chain actors, with particular attention to women and youth participation. SAPP II through the Farmer Challenge Fund (FCF) is providing competitive financial support to farmer groups and SMEs for improved production systems, agro-processing, mechanization, and market- oriented enterprises aimed at enhancing productivity, commercialization, and income generation.

3

Strengthened institutional capacity and knowledge management systems

SAPP II is strengthening the capacity of project staff, partner institutions, and frontline extension workers through training, provision of operational equipment, and enhanced district-level coordination to support effective programme implementation. The programme has established strong knowledge management and communication systems by producing and disseminating agricultural information through ICT platforms, media channels, publications, and this dedicated SAPP II website to share achievements, lessons, and success stories. SAPP II is also supporting policy development, disaster risk management, digital climate advisory solutions, and pilot weather micro-insurance schemes to enhance the resilience, commercialization, and climate adaptation capacity of smallholder farmers.

SAPP Programme

About Us

The Sustainable Agriculture Production Programme (SAPP) II will be implemented over a 7-year period (2024-2030) and will be implemented in four districts in Malawi. These include; two old Sustainable Agriculture Production Programme (SAPP) districts, namely: Lilongwe in the Central Region Balaka in the Southern Region. The two new additional districts include; Mzimba in the Northern Region and Dowa in the Central Region. The International Fund finances the programme for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Malawi Government and the programme beneficiaries.

Farmer Organisations

A total of 1192 farmer organizations have been profiled against a target of 730 Farmer organizations

Chicken and Goat Pass-on Programme

The programme continues to distribute goats and chickens to beneficiary households through the small stock pass-on programme to improve food security and household income.

Latest News

Stay updated with SAPP programme activities and announcements.

Balaka farmers saved by RED intervention
Update
Balaka farmers saved by RED intervention

Ulongwe Extension Planning Area (EPA) has a total of 9,561 FISP beneficiaries out of which 2,025 beneficiaries have been sponsored by the Sustainable Agriculture Production Programme (SAPP II). These beneficiaries have gotten their support through the RED component of the SAPP II. Jackson Juwawo, an Agriculture Extension Development Officer (AEDO) in Ulongwe EPA said in spite of scathing sunshine which scorched crops in most of the fields, all the beneficiaries under RED have had a good experience this growing season. According to Juwawo, the RED farmers’ gardens had a delayed sun effect because the field had strong vegetative cover which conserved moisture. All the while, other fields which had less foliage had started drying up because they could not withstand the heat due to poor nutrition since those farmers didn’t access affordable inputs. By the time the RED fields had started succumbing to the heat, the rains had started falling down again, saving whatever remained of the crops. He said, “I can confidently say that in spite of the dry spell which hit us really hard, there are farmers that will harvest substantially, thanks to the inputs which they got from the project.” Mustafa Joni from Kusigala Village, TA Msamala in Balaka is one of the lucky farmers who bought two bags of fertilizer at K10 000 each and received 5kilogramme of seed. He is expecting not less than 35 bags after using the inputs. Said Joni, “I know that I am going to harvest more as compared to what happened last growing season when this didn’t materialise due to a number of things; the dry spell as well as lack of farm inputs and use of uncertified maize seed.” Rose Douglas Kusyaje from Bazale EPA, is another farmer who is likely to harvest this season yet most of the fields belonging to her peers are not looking good because of the dry spell. “Last year I harvested only three bags of maize because I didn’t have fertilizer, in addition to the dry spell. This year in spite of the dry spell, I have taken good care of my field by using the affordable farm inputs and that has been the secret behind my beautiful maize stand.” According to Juwawo the RED component has had a 100 percent redemption rate and he said without fear that the intervention will this year have an impact on their production. In his view, the area had a strong and beautiful crop stand but the dry spell has proven to be more destructive. During this growing season, the rains started way earlier than usual and this, according to Juwawo, took everyone by surprise, including the implementers of the RED component of SAPP II. However the surprise did not have a huge impact on production because the programme had already planned to distribute inputs as early as possible.

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SAPP II trains Govt officers on Website Management
Programme News
SAPP II trains Govt officers on Website Management

SAPP II is among other things designed to strengthen rural farmers’ participation in agricultural commercialization and access to structured markets by promoting increased production and value addition across agricultural value chains.

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SAPP II trains Government officers in Website
Programme News
SAPP II trains Government officers in Website

The Sustainable Agriculture Production Programme Phase II (SAPP II) has conducted a two-day training workshop for government officers aimed at strengthening their capacity in website management and digital communication. The training brought together officers from various departments under the Ministry of Agriculture to enhance their skills in managing website content, publishing information online, and maintaining an effective digital presence. Participants were equipped with practical knowledge on website navigation, content uploading, news and article publication, user management, and website administration. Speaking during the training, programme officials emphasized that effective website management is critical for improving access to agricultural information and promoting transparency, accountability, and knowledge sharing among stakeholders. The workshop forms part of SAPP II's broader efforts to strengthen institutional capacity and knowledge management systems within the agricultural sector. Through improved digital platforms, the programme seeks to ensure timely dissemination of information on agricultural technologies, climate-smart agriculture practices, market opportunities, project achievements, and success stories. Participants were taken through various sessions covering website navigation, content management procedures, document uploads, news and event updates, user access management, and best practices for maintaining accurate and up-to-date online information. One of the participants described the training as timely, noting that digital platforms have become essential tools for communicating with farmers, development partners, researchers, and the general public. The training also highlighted the importance of quality content development, data accuracy, and regular website updates to ensure that stakeholders have access to reliable and relevant information. SAPP II is a Government of Malawi programme implemented with support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The programme aims to commercialize agricultural production, strengthen climate resilience, improve food and nutrition security, and enhance the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in selected districts of Malawi. A key component of the programme focuses on strengthening institutional capacity and knowledge management systems to support effective implementation and information sharing. The website management training is expected to contribute to improved communication and visibility of agricultural development initiatives, while supporting the Government's digital transformation agenda and enhancing service delivery to stakeholders across the country.

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Success Stories

RED BAILS OUT YOUTHFUL FARMERS

RED BAILS OUT YOUTHFUL FARMERS

Youthful couple – Braveson Chithope, 28, and Lezina Keliasi, 25 – from Kumitengo Village, Nyanja Extension Planning Area (EPA) under Senior Chief Kalumbu in Lilongwe has all reasons to walk tall as the 2025/2026 growing season harvesting period approaches. The couple had always desired to farm beyond subsistence, but low access to inputs coupled with unforgiving long dry spells, had always stood in the way over the past growing seasons. But the young couple is singing a different song in the 2025/2026 growing season as, by 10th February, 2026, the Chithopes’ maize crop field had already confirmed a pending bumper yield, with long and healthy maize cobs in their field. “It’s a one-acre field and as you can see, the yield is very promising,” explained Chithope’s wife, Lezina, during a media tour mid-February, 2026, and she went on: “We are expecting not less than 80 bags of maize from this field as the variety that you’re seeing here is a long duration variety, which yields way beyond 100 bags per acre.” Her husband, Braveson, had expressed similar optimism earlier, mid-January, when the Minister of Agriculture, Roza Mbilizi, had visited the stand as the maize crop was just about to tassel. Braveson and his wife are among farmers in Lilongwe who benefitted from the Response to Emergency and Disaster (RED), a contingency component within the Sustainable Agricultural Production Programme (SAPP II), designed to respond to emergencies and disaster that may arise in Malawi. Despite the dry spell that threatened farmers in a number of districts, including Lilongwe and Balaka, most RED beneficiaries have been least affected, with their maize crop promising a bumper yield, raising hopes of prosperity among older, and younger farmers like Braveson and his wife, Lezina. “When we harvest our maize, we plan to reserve a few bags for consumption up to the other harvest and sell the rest,” explained Lezina, adding: “Then we will invest the generated income into a business of our choice and make more gains.”

Lilongwe
SAPP II TAKES ANOTHER MILE ON GOAT PASS ON PROGRAMM

SAPP II TAKES ANOTHER MILE ON GOAT PASS ON PROGRAMM

DAESS Technical Advice and Key Reflection Questions for Committees Upangiri othandiza ntchito DAESS ndi mafunso opita ku makomiti a DAESS The questions to guide discussion and self-assessment at all DAESS committee levels (VAC, VASP,AASP, DSP and DAECC) Mafunso otsgolera zokambirana komanso kawuniwuni wa makomita a nthambi zonse DAES Message 1: DAESS is Demand-Driven Uthenga Woyamba: Anthu amayenera kufunsa/kupempha ntchito za DAESS Key Question:

Balaka
SAPP II imparting good agricultural practices

SAPP II imparting good agricultural practices

Kasoni applauded SAPP II for imparting good agricultural practices, including soil conservation, proper ridging and planting, which he attributed RED Component’s success to. “Farmers under RED have made a notable difference in our area and, although we have a few weeks to go before harvest time, the fields are promising us a bumper harvest,” explained Kasoni, himself a RED beneficiary. From his one-acre piece of land where he planted certified maize seed, Kasoni is expecting not less than 80 bags of maize, which he plans to sell, after reserving enough to feed his family– an experience the GVH confesses he hasn’t had for years. “A leader must lead by example in all aspects: A leader who can’t feed himself doesn’t command respect from his/her subjects – and it’s even worse when the subjects, themselves, also can’t feed themselves,” reasoned Kasoni. He added: “A hungry leader can easily fall into the trap of corruption to earn a living; but RED Component under SAPP II has draped us chiefs in a robe of honour by, above all else, enabling us and our subjects to be food secure.”

Lilongwe
MOBILE MARKETING SYSTEM GAME-CHANGER IN REDEEMING SUBSIDIZED INPUTS

MOBILE MARKETING SYSTEM GAME-CHANGER IN REDEEMING SUBSIDIZED INPUTS

A 100 percent redemption rate of subsidized agriculture inputs has been registered in the Response to Emergencies and Disasters (RED) component in the Sustainable Agriculture Production Programme (SAPPII). The programme is being implemented in Balaka and Lilongwe, where a total of 22,000 household beneficiaries accessed subsidized fertilisers and free certified maize seed. According to the programme’s national coordinator, RexBaluwa, the redemption rate was at 100 percent and he attributed the success to the system they have been using. The system is called Mobile Marketing System where farmers are found at a strategic point with the farm inputs and are encouraged to redeem as a group thereby reducing expenses by individual beneficiaries. Agriculture Extension Development Officer (AEDO) from Ulongwe Extension Planning Area (EPA) in Balaka district under Machinga Agriculture Development Division (ADD) Jackson Juwawo, confirmed the perfect input redemption rate. In Ulongwe EPA, all the 2,025 recipients from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) supported programme redeemed their inputs. Even in the wake of the dry spells which hit the district,Juwawo is optimistic that the SAPP II intervention will have still achieved a positive impact on the season’s production. He attributed the mobile marketing system as a game-changer behind the programme’s success noting that even vulnerable populations got their inputs. “This programme has a success story in the sense that most of the targeted farmers have at once accessed all the inputs. The normal subsidy programme where farmers have to go to the markets to buy inputs at the market takes longer. “But this one we were using as a Mobile Marketing System where we’re first redeeming then the fertilizer comes later; so all the farmers collected the inputs at once,” he explained. He further indicated there were no distribution challenges as there were no vendors or middlemen involved in the programme.

Sapp Districts
Satisfied Beneficiary with SAPP II

Satisfied Beneficiary with SAPP II

Tuweni Dayisoni, a beneficiary of Response to Emergency and Disasters (RED) component under Sustainable Agriculture Production Programme (SAPPII) indicated that in the past two years, it has been challenging for farmers in the district to buy fertilizer and expressed hope that organizations would come to their rescue. In this year’s farming season, she said that no-one in Bwaila Ward received subsidized fertiliser; but the coming in SAPP II has made a difference and if it wasn’t for the initiative, many could not afford to buy fertiliser at the prevailing market prices. She expressed gratitude with the SAPP II intervention sponsored by the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) which has made it possible for her to continue farming and appealed to authorities to ensure affordable fertilizer prices.

Lilongwe
Subsidized farm inputs overcoming food insecurity, boosting incomes

Subsidized farm inputs overcoming food insecurity, boosting incomes

Beneficiaries of the subsidized farm inputs programme under the Sustainable Agriculture Production Programme (SAPP II) financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have hailed the initiative as a real game changer, in attaining food security at household level. Through the initiative, maize seed is fully paid for by the project meaning the farmers redeemed it at zero cost while fertilisers were redeemed at K10, 000 per 50- kilogramme bag in line with the government's Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP). One of the beneficiaries, Lezina Keliyasi, explained that after being shortlisted as one of the recipients of the subsidized inputs, preparations in her maize field started in earnest. She confessed that previously, she was just doing farming without properly taking care of her crops and not applying enough fertiliser but now the approach is different. “The coming in of the affordable fertiliser from SAPP II has enabled me to apply it in my maize garden this year and the expectation is that I will have a bumper harvest of not less than 80 bags per acre. “Here in T/A Kalumbu’s area we used to harvest maize but it wasn’t enough to last the whole year at our household; but this time around as a family, we will have enough to eat and some to sell, we expect to do more business as SAPP II is encouraging us to generate more income,” said Keliyasi. SAPP II comes after the Sustainable Agriculture Production Programme (SAPP) which was also funded by IFAD and supported farmers with different interventions, including livestock pass-on programme. SAPP II has the Response to Emergencies and Disasters (RED) component which mostly caters for access to food security at household level. It is a complementary initiative to FISP targeting smallholder farmers affected by disaster. However, some of the beneficiaries under the component reported increased prospects of income from the yields. Keliyasi has since urged fellow farmers to be self-starters, determined and use organic manure for their crops so that they should not only rely on government support. Senior Group Village Headman Kalumbu from Traditional Authority Kalumbu in Lilongwe indicated that he was happy with the progress made. The chief explained that when the RED component started in Nyanja Extension Planning Area (EPA), identified beneficiaries received free certified maize seed and redeemed fertiliser on time. Senior Group Village Headman Kalumbu said farmers expect to harvest more than 80 bags courtesy of the advice from extension staff encouraging farmers to follow good agriculture practices. He called on his subjects to be involved in farming activities in order to achieve food and income security.

Lilongwe
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Upcoming Events

Stay updated with the latest SAPP programme events and activities.

23
JUN
-
26
JUN
Field Day
Collection of articles for the production of a magazine (Za Chikumbe)

Collection of articles for the production of a magazine (Za Chikumbe)

SAPP II District
-
22
JUN
-
03
JUL
Mission
IFAD Supervision Mission

The objective of the Mission is to track the project’s implementation progress for the 2025/26 implementation year.

Lilongwe
07:30 - 16:30
18
JUN
-
19
JUN
Training
WEBSITE TRAINING

Government Officials on SAPP II Training in Dowa

dowa
08:00 - 16:30
02
JUN
-
04
JUN
Field Day
Content Collection for Radio Programming in Balaka and Lilongwe

Distribution of goats and chickens to selected households under the small stock pass-on programme in Balaka District.

Balaka, Lilongwe
09:00 - 15:00