Your climate-smart partner, every step of the way.

First Good News: You Are Not Farming Alone

Across Malawi from Chitipa to Nsanje farming has always been a story of resilience, determination and hope. And this season, you don’t have to face it alone.

For more than 85 years, Seed Co has walked side by side with African farmers through locally adapted seed genetics, agronomic advisory, field demonstrations, digital weather tools and climate-smart guidance. Whatever this season brings, our commitment stays the same: helping you make informed decisions before, during and after planting, so you can farm with confidence.

The best part? While no one can control the weather, every farmer can control how well they prepare for it. And preparation, done early, is the single best investment you can make in a bumper harvest.

Now, Let’s Talk About What’s Coming

Current global outlooks point to an 80% – 90% probability of El Nino conditions during the 2026/27 season. That means, for many districts, the season ahead could bring:

• Below-normal or erratic rainfall
• Dry spells during critical growth stages
• In some areas, there is a higher risk of heavy rainfall or localized flooding

Please note these are preliminary global signals. Final, more detailed regional forecasts for Malawi are expected in August, through ACCOF, SARCOF and the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services. Keep watching official updates as the season approaches.

Here’s the truth: not every district faces the same level of risk. That’s exactly why a one-size-fits-all planting plan doesn’t work this season; your district’s risk tier should guide your variety and crop choices.

Here’s How to Prepare: Your District, Your Risk Tier, Your Plan

To make this simple, we’ve broken Malawi’s 28 districts into five risk tiers from low risk in the north to critical, compound-hazard risk in parts of the south. Find your district below and match it to the recommended maize varieties and companion crops for your area.

Seed Co Malawi El Nino Variety Recommendations by District Risk Tier

Quick breakdown what this means for you:

• Tier 1 & 2 (Low to Low-Moderate Risk): Chitipa, Karonga, Rumphi, Mzimba, Likoma, Nkhata Bay. Standard preparedness is enough. Focus on good agronomy and water conservation as a safety net.
• Tier 3 (Moderate Risk): Nkhotakota, Kasungu, Mchinji, Lilongwe, Salima, Ntchisi, Dowa, Dedza. Plan for both dry spells and possible heavy rainfall (especially Ntchisi and Dowa). Moisture conservation and flood monitoring both matters here.
• Tier 4 (High Risk): Machinga, Zomba. Drought preparedness should be your leading priority this season.
• Tier 5 (Critical / Compound Hazard): Ntcheu, Mangochi, Balaka, Neno, Mwanza, Blantyre, Phalombe, Mulanje, Thyolo, Chiradzulu, Chikwawa, Nsanje. These 12 districts should plan for both severe drought and severe rainfall risk. Integrated drought-and-flood contingency planning is essential.
• Key tip for every tier: Plant two or three maize varieties with different maturity days, alongside other recommended crops like soya, beans, sorghum and rice. Spreading your risk across varieties and maturity periods is one of the simplest, most effective ways to protect your harvest whatever the season brings.

The Reassurance: You Have a Partner in This

Climate uncertainty does not have to mean uncertainty in your harvest. This is exactly why Seed Co exists in your community to make sure that whatever tier your district falls into, there’s a genetics-and-agronomy plan ready for you.

Here’s what we’re doing for you this season:

• Providing locally adapted, climate-smart varieties bred for Malawi’s conditions
• Running field demonstrations and agronomy training near you
• Sharing timely weather and agronomic advisories as forecasts are updated
• Promoting conservation agriculture and water-smart farming techniques
• Working closely with national meteorological agencies to strengthen early warning and preparedness

Together, through early preparedness, quality Seed Co genetics and climate-smart agronomy, we can build resilient farms and prosperous farming communities’ season after season.

Your Next Step: Get Support Today

You don’t have to figure this out alone. Reach out, and let’s plan your season together:

• Personalised agronomic advice: Email: SeedCo.agronomy@seedcogroup.com
• Download the Seedney app for precision farming tools, AI-powered crop diagnosis, weather intelligence, variety recommendations and expert advisory right in your pocket:
  • Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/zm/app/seedney/id6768872826
  • Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.seedney.app
• Order your recommended varieties via USSD: *2027#
• Explore more climate-smart resources** on the Seed Co Malawi website: https://seedcogroup.com/mw/fieldcrops/el-nino-preparedness-alerts/

The Bottom Line

No one can control the rain. But every farmer can control their preparation. Know your district’s risk tier, choose the right mix of varieties, and lean on Seed Co’s agronomy support because together, we prepare for every season.