26/05/2026
ABOUT GROUNDNUTS FARMING 🌱
Groundnuts are one of Malawi’s most profitable legume crops highly demanded locally and internationally. They are used for food, oil extraction, peanut butter, and snacks, making them a strong agribusiness opportunity.
1️⃣ Suitable Varieties in Malawi
Choose improved, high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties such as:
CG7 – high yielding, popular in markets
Chitala
Nsinjiro – sweet taste, marketable
Baka – early maturing
These varieties do well across Malawi’s agro-ecological zones.
2️⃣ Ideal Growing Conditions
Groundnuts need:
Well-drained sandy loam soil
Soil pH of 5.5–7.0
Moderate rainfall (700–1000 mm per season)
Warm temperatures
Avoid waterlogged soils — they cause rotting.
3️⃣ Land Preparation
Plough and harrow for a fine seedbed
Remove stones and stumps
Use ridges or flat beds depending on rainfall
A fine seedbed helps proper pe***ng and pod formation.
4️⃣ Planting Guidelines
Best planting time: November–December (after first effective rains).
Spacing:
75 cm between rows
10–15 cm within rows
Plant 2 seeds per station for good plant population.
5️⃣ Fertilizer/Soil Nutrition
Groundnuts fix their own nitrogen — do NOT apply nitrogen fertilizers like Urea.
Instead:
Apply SSP or compound 23:21:0+4S at planting for root development
Add lime if soil is acidic
Use manure to improve soil structure
6️⃣ W**d Management
W**d control is critical in the first 4–6 weeks.
Use:
Early hand weeding
Mulching
Herbicides like Dual Gold (pre-emergence)
W**ds reduce yield drastically if ignored.
7️⃣ Pests & Diseases
Common problems:
Aphids (spread rosette virus)
Leaf spot
Armyworms
Termites
Management:
Early planting
Use resistant varieties
Rotate crops
Apply recommended pesticides where necessary
8️⃣ Harvesting
Harvest when:
Leaves turn yellow
Pods are fully developed
Pegs begin to darken
Avoid late harvesting pods may fall off in the soil.
9️⃣ Drying & Storage
After harvesting:
Dry groundnuts on clean mats or raised racks
Remove moisture to sa
