<p>Staple crops in Malawi are increasingly threatened by climate shocks, underscoring the need for resilient alternatives. Lablab (<i>Lablab purpureus L.</i>), a nutrient-dense and climate-resilient legume, offers a promising avenue to strengthen food and nutrition security while contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 2. Despite its potential, cultivation remains dependent on unimproved landraces, highlighting a gap in participatory breeding approaches. This study explored traditional uses, production practices, seed sources, marketing, constraints, and farmer-preferred traits across Malawi’s agroecological zones. Using multi-stage sampling, data were collected from 458 smallholder farmers through questionnaires, focus group discussions, and field visits. Results showed that lablab farming is predominantly managed by women (67%), with intercropping (90%) as the main cropping system. Lablab is primarily consumed as food and processed into dehulled paste (72.3%). Pods (54%) and seeds (43.9%) are the main plant parts used, mostly prepared by boiling (84.3%). Seeds are predominantly sourced from previous harvests (51.3%), with fellow farmers serving as the primary information source (average rank &lt; 1.5). Pests and disease infestation (1.73) ranked the most severe constraint. Pod borers (81.9%), beetles (78.2%), and bacterial wilt (47.4%) emerged as the most prevalent field pests, storage pests, and disease, respectively. Farmers’ top-priority trait preferences included early maturity,&#xa0;high-yielding, pest and disease resistance. These findings provide the first comprehensive baseline evidence on lablab in Malawi, positioning it as a climate-smart legume with promising strategic potential. Tailored participatory breeding programs focusing on earliness, high yield, pest and disease resistance should be prioritized to promote lablab’s productivity, strengthen resilience, and sustainable food systems.</p>