This report evaluates the 2006/7 Malawi Government Agricultural Input Subsidy Programme
(AISP). The main objective of the evaluation is to assess the impact and implementation of the
AISP in order to provide lessons for future interventions in growth and social protection. The
evaluation combined qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and analysis.
Quantitative data were collected through a national survey in 2007 of 2,491 households who
were previously interviewed in the 2004/05 Integrated Household Survey,, a survey of retail
shops selling inputs in six districts and data on stocks and sales from manufacturers, large-scale
importers and dealers of fertilizers and seeds. The quantitative data was triangulated by
qualitative data from focus group discussions with smallholder farmers in 12 districts, and key
informant interviews with government staff, input distributors and beneficiary and non-beneficiary
households. The analysis is based on descriptive statistics, econometric modelling and livelihood
and rural economy modelling. An Interim Report in March 2007 provides fuller details of the
implementation of the programme.