The influence of media on agricultural policy decisions in Malawi : a political economy analysis

Abstract

Malawi is a predominantly agrarian economy, as the majority of the population is reliant on agriculture as their main source of livelihood. Despite that critical role the sector has to the economy, it has undergone minimal revolution to match its crucial status to the economy. There is need to understand the factors that have influenced agricultural policy decisions overtime. The quality of policy decisions taken over the last decade implies that, apart from economic motives, government has another agenda that it aims to achieve through some policy decisions. The government has manipulated the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP) through populist pricing and implementation to uphold its popularity and legitimacy. Stakeholders and the citizenry need to ensure that their interests are included in agricultural policies. Mass media can play a crucial role in agricultural policy decisions. The media’s precise role in policymaking, however, has received little attention. This study aimed at establishing the influence of the media on agricultural policy decisions in Malawi, with a focus on the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP). The study catalogued 853 articles, selected from two newspapers over a ten-year period (2005–2015). Malawi has implemented the subsidy programme for over a decade now to ensure food sufficiency. However, it is argued that the programme lacks direction and that it has been branded as a political tool for the ruling elites. The policy-makers have been criticised to the effect that the fertiliser policy is not motivated or driven by the technical efficiency required, but rather by the political incentives that are associated with the programme. The study adopted a political economy approach in establishing the role that the media has on agricultural policy.