WIDER Working Paper 2014/099 The economywide impacts and risks of Malawi’s farm input subsidy programme

The Malawi Agricultural Inputs Subsidy Programme, 2005/6 to 2008/9

The implementation in Malawi of a large scale agricultural input subsidy programme in 2005/6 and subsequent years has attracted significant international interest. This paper reviews the background, implementation and impacts of the programme from 2005/6 to 2008/9. The programme is estimated to have raised national maize production by 26 to 60 percent. In so doing, the programme has contributed...

The Malawi Agricultural Input Subsidy Programme : 2005 - 6 to 2008 - 9 1

Malawi’s implementation of a large scale agricultural input subsidy programme in 2005/6 and subsequent years has attracted significant international interest. This paper reviews the background, processes, achievements and outcomes of the programme over the period 2005/6 to 2008/9. The very large scale disbursement of heavily subsidised fertilisers and (mainly hybrid and composite maize) seed to...

Impacts of the Farm Input Subsidy Programme in Malawi: Informal Rural Economy Modelling

Targeting in the Farm Input Subsidy Programme in Malawi: Issues and Options

This paper examines targeting issues that emerge from FISP evaluations undertaken since 2006/07, and puts forward various options for improving targeting. Targeting objectives depend upon programme objectives. In the FISP targeting occurs at area and beneficiary levels – the former targeting subsidies to different zones or districts, the latter targeting beneficiaries within already targeted ar...

The Political Effects of Agricultural Subsidies in Africa: Evidence from Malawi

— Across sub-Saharan Africa agricultural subsidy programs have again become a common strategy for combatting rural poverty, increasing agricultural production, and reducing food insecurity. Despite a large literature examining subsidies’ effects on output and welfare, little is known about their political effects. This paper examines Malawi’s Agricultural Input Subsidy Programme, one of the lar...