Walid Battal
Agriculture represents a crucial pillar of the economy and employment in Malawi, a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The sector contributes 42% to the country’s GDP and employs nearly 80% of the working population. It ensures food security through staple crops such as maize, rice, sorghum, and cassava.
However, Malawian agriculture faces several significant challenges. Climatic uncertainties can lead to agricultural losses of up to 40% in some regions. Moreover, limited access to markets, due to poor infrastructure and trade barriers, reduces the potential income of farmers by 15 to 25%, while also making financing opportunities harder to secure.
Map: Geographical location of Malawi, bordered by Tanzania, Mozambique, and Zambia.
To address these challenges, several solutions are being considered, such as improving infrastructure, training farmers, better access to financing, and supportive government policies. Although tobacco accounts for more than 70% of the country’s agricultural exports, efforts are being made to diversify crops and improve access to water and agricultural technologies. Despite the challenges, agriculture remains an attractive source of income for the local population, offering numerous opportunities for employment and robust economic growth in Malawi.