MET cautions farmers against planting

Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (MET) says the recent rains experienced in parts of the country do not provide reliable conditions for planting.

MET spokesperson James Pagona said yesterday that although some areas, particularly in the Southern and Central regions received significant rainfall last week, the conditions do not meet the criteria for the onset of the main rains.

He said rainfall onset is defined as the first rainfall occasion after October 1 when cumulative rainfall over three days exceeds 25 millimetres, followed by no dry spell of more than 10 days in the next 21 days.

“These are the very first rains, the false onset, so we cannot advise farmers to plant,” he said.

Pagona noted that the rainfall has largely been confined to parts of the Southern and Central regions, while the Northern Region has remained generally dry, making it premature to regard the rains as the start of the rainy season.

MET’s latest weekly weather forecast, released on Sunday, predicts mostly sunny and hot conditions over most parts of the country this week.

The forecast, however, indicates that the convergence of southeasterly and easterly winds is likely to trigger another episode of isolated downpours and stronger thunderstorms from Thursday to Sunday.

Last week, most areas experienced windy and cloudy conditions, thunderstorms and heavy rainfall, particularly in the Southern Region and some parts of the Central Region.

MET data indicate that the highest reported 24-hour rainfall was 142.2 millimetres recorded at Mulanje Boma on September 30.

In an interview, agriculture expert Leonard Chimwaza agreed that the rains are not sufficient to support planting, although they have been significant in some areas.

“The risk is that if farmers plant, the danger of crop failure is high and they will end up needing to replant, which will increase the cost of farming,” he said.

The MET forecast has projected a drier and more erratic 2026/27 rainfall season, particularly in Southern and Central Malawi, where communities are likely to experience below-normal rainfall, delayed onset and prolonged dry spells. Normal to above-normal rainfall is expected over much of Northern Malawi.

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