By Dyson Mthawanji
There is a rise in the cost of living for low-income families in Malawi. The Basic Needs Basket indicates an increase from K938 291 ($ 551.93) in September to K945 029 ($ 555.89) in October 2025.
This skyward shift mirrors upward pressure on households that are already stressed to afford essential goods and services.
Writing in The Nation newspaper dated 20th November, 2025, the Centre for Social Concern Economic Governance Officer, Agness Nyirongo, said one of the major contributors to the rise in the cost of living during this period was the significant increase in vegetable prices.
Tomatoes and onions, which are central to daily meal preparation in Malawi, became more expensive across cities such as Lilongwe, Zomba, and Mzuzu. For instance, tomato prices in Mzuzu increased from K3 022 ($ 1.77) to K3 832 ($ 2.25) per kg, while onion prices jumped from K3 479 ($ 2.04) to K4 492 ($ 2.64) per kg.
These increases have immediate effects on meal costs, especially for households that rely heavily on vegetables as part of their daily diet.
Protein sources also recorded piercing price increases, further worsening nutritional challenges for low-income families. Prices of dry fish varieties such as usipa and mcheni rose markedly, while beef prices in Mzuzu increased from K12 000 ($ 7.05) to K14 000 ($ 8.23) per kg. Protein foods are already expensive for many households, and these additional increases reduced affordability even further, pushing more families toward less nutritious, carbohydrate-heavy diets.
The cumulative effect of these increases has been particularly harsh on low-income earners. Families are now forced to reduce the quantity and nutritional quality of their meals, often prioritising food expenditure over critical needs such as healthcare, education, and sanitation.
As stakeholders take a modern approach to Adult Learning and Education (ALE), it is high time they realised that ALE can be an ingredient to the panacea of people’s everyday life challenges such as the rising cost of living.
It is time for participants of ALE classes such as activities of Community Learning Centres (CLCs) to engage in practices that will cushion their economic hardships.
The CLCs should provide small business grants, entrepreneurship training, support for backyard gardening and small livestock rearing, and market linkages for community-based horticulture. Integrating livelihood support helps beneficiaries develop sustainable income sources and reduces long-term reliance on cash transfers. As food prices continue to rise, improving household income-generating capacity becomes essential for long-term economic security.
CLCs should help low-income families to mitigate the effects of the high cost of living by equipping them with relevant skills and knowledge. For instance, adults should be trained in agricultural practices such as backyard gardening for vegetables. This not only provides a sustainable source of nutritious food but also offers an opportunity to generate additional income through the sale of surplus produce.
By empowering adults with skills in entrepreneurship, ALE shall help individuals start and manage small businesses, thereby increasing their income and reducing reliance on scarce resources. Training in areas such as financial literacy, business planning, and market analysis can enable entrepreneurs to make informed decisions and navigate the challenges of the business environment.
Moreover, ALE programmes such as CLCs should focus on vocational skills training, such as tailoring, carpentry, or mechanics, which can enhance employability and open up new income-generating opportunities. By acquiring new skills, adults can diversify their income streams and better cope with economic shocks.
Furthermore, ALE should also promote financial literacy and budgeting skills, enabling individuals to manage their limited resources more effectively. This can help households prioritise their spending, reduce debt, and build savings, thereby cushioning the impact of economic hardship.
To implement such initiatives, the Malawi government, Non-Governmental Organisations, and community organisations should collaborate to establish adult learning centres that offer relevant and practical training programmes. These centres should also serve as hubs for community activities, promoting social interaction and a sense of community.