By Steve Chauluka, contributor:
Malawi’s farmers are turning to technology in the fight against crop diseases and pests thanks to the Malawi Digital Plant Health Services (Madiphs) national client.
The web and phone-based platform promises timely agronomic advisories, giving farmers in remote areas the guidance they need to protect their crops, reduce losses and boost yields.
For farmers like Chikondi Chimbalame from Nazumi Extension Planning Area, Madiphs could be a game changer.
“We often lost crops because extension officers were far. Now advice comes straight to our phones,” Chimbalame said.
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The Madiphs national client allows users to retrieve agricultural data collected by project partners and access advisories from the Department of Agriculture Extension Services (Daes).
Lead ICT specialist for Madiphs Chikondi Mwakwiza said Daes has a wealth of advisories to help farmers deal with issues such as pest infestations or crop diseases.
“The national client brings all this information into one place, making it easier to act quickly,” Mwakwiza said.
The platform launch comes amid data showing limited access to extension services.
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The 2025 National Census of Agriculture found that only 38.7 percent of households involved in crop production received advice on agricultural practices with just 20.2 percent relying on extension officers.
Digital solutions like Madiphs are filling that gap as 67 percent of farmers already use radios, televisions, mobile apps and phones to get advisory services.
“Overall, I am happy that we are meeting the objectives of Madiphs. Farmers will be able to get healthier crops, use less pesticide and ultimately increase revenue from their farms,” Karl Thunes, project leader from the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, said.
