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ProjectFactsheetHand-in-Hand Initiative: Supporting Agricultural Transformation through Informed Agricultural Planning and Investment - TCP/MLW/3805 2025
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No results found.Malawi's economy heavily depends on agriculture, with over 80 percent of the population relying on smallholder farming. However, agricultural production and productivity remain below potential, failing to meet growing domestic and export demands. This shortfall is driven by factors such as environmental degradation, population pressure on arable land, limited access to modern farming technologies, low mechanization, poor infrastructure and the effects of climate variability. Additionally, limited access to up-to-date information and data hampers informed investment planning in the agricultural sector. To address these challenges, the government launched the Malawi 2063 Vision in January 2021, which focuses on three pillars: agricultural productivity and commercialization, industrialization and urbanization. A key aspect of this strategy is to identify areas with high agricultural potential to optimize investment outcomes, aligning with the goals of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Hand-in-Hand (HiH) Initiative. This initiative uses advanced data and Geographic Information System (GIS) tools to support agricultural transformation and sustainable rural development, targeting poverty reduction, hunger eradication and the reduction of inequalities by leveraging evidence-based data for better-targeted investments. It utilizes sophisticated econometric modelling and geospatial data to assess the agricultural and economic potential of specific micro-regions. -
ProjectFactsheetEmergency Support for Small-Scale Farmers Affected by Floods in the Southern Region of Malawi in 2019 - TCP/MLW/3703 2022
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No results found.The majority of the population of Malawi depends on rainfed smallholder agriculture The country is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and climatic shocks, which are increasing in intensity, frequency and unpredictability, making climate resilience ever more vital to safeguard its development gains and secure a more prosperous future Agriculture plays an important role in the economy and vital for the livelihoods of most Malawians, including for national food self sufficiency and household food and nutrition security The agricultural sector is dominated by crops, while other sub sectors, such as livestock and fisheries, are comparatively small and their share of employment is much higher than their contribution to gross domestic product These are an important source of food and nutrition policy The project focused on responding to the severe weather system formed off the eastern coast of Mozambique, which affected Malawi with heavy rain and strong winds and eventually intensified into Cyclone Idai which struck Malawi a second time Floods not only devastated infrastructure for agricultural production (such as land and drainage systems), but also crops and livestock rearing and productive infrastructure, which was partially or totally destroyed Most farmers reported total or partial loss of crops, death of animals and pest and disease outbreaks The consequences for the country were disastrous, causing mass displacement of people and affecting 15 districts and 2 cities. -
ProjectFactsheetStrengthening the National Food Control System in Malawi - TCP/MLW/3801 2024
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No results found.Malawi largely relies on agriculture that accounts for 36 to 40 percent of its national gross domestic product (GDP). Despite its great potential for exports, the country remains a net importer of most of the products. The national agricultural and food chain system is mainly dominated by smallholder producers, with minimal value chain addition through existing and/or new processing investors. These new processors require guidance and support through an effective and sustainable national food safety system. Although Malawi has put in place responsible public institutions that play various roles in the implementation of food safety legislation, the food control system still faces a number of weaknesses, as highlighted by the participatory assessment of the national food control system (NFCS) conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 2017-2018. The NFCS concluded in a set of recommendations that nourished a strategic plan that coordinates efforts of the ministries and competent authorities involved in food control as well as other stakeholders of the food chain. The present Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) project provided technical and financial assistance to Malawi for the initiation of the inclusive implementation of the strategic plan and the mobilization of national resources and political commitment towards instituting long-term food safety in the country.
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Book (stand-alone)Technical reportLivestock sector report
A review of the livestock sector in Malawi in 2021
2022Also available in:
No results found.The livestock sector in Malawi contributes at least 22.4 percent to the GDP (6.6 percent). Despite such a significant contribution to the economy, the livestock sector received only 0.8 percent of the government funding allocated to agriculture annually from 2012 and 2020. However, the livestock sector has a lot of potential to grow and contribute more to the economy. Currently, the sector is not able to produce enough to satisfy local demand and there are many opportunities for the sector to supply livestock and livestock products to external markets. This report captures findings from a review of the livestock sector in Malawi, which was conducted in 2021. Major recommendations from the review are: to increase public and private sector investment in the livestock sector; to increase the number of livestock and livestock inputs supported in the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP), to create specialist officer positions such as livestock officer (dairy), livestock officer (poultry) in the livestock sections; to increase the number of livestock extension workers by increasing the number of assistant veterinary officers (AVOs) and recruiting at least one assistant livestock development officer (ALDO) per agricultural extension planning area (EPA); and to make livestock sections in district agriculture offices more autonomous for them to have more say and control over budgeting issues so that the livestock sections can be more appropriately funded. -
BookletCorporate general interestEmissions due to agriculture
Global, regional and country trends 2000–2018
2021Also available in:
No results found.The FAOSTAT emissions database is composed of several data domains covering the categories of the IPCC Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector of the national GHG inventory. Energy use in agriculture is additionally included as relevant to emissions from agriculture as an economic production sector under the ISIC A statistical classification, though recognizing that, in terms of IPCC, they are instead part of the Energy sector of the national GHG inventory. FAO emissions estimates are available over the period 1961–2018 for agriculture production processes from crop and livestock activities. Land use emissions and removals are generally available only for the period 1990–2019. This analytical brief focuses on overall trends over the period 2000–2018. -
Book (stand-alone)Technical bookSoil loss assessment in Malawi 2016
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No results found.Soil loss is a major threat to the agricultural development in Malawi and by extension is also a major hindrance to the overall economic development of the country since the Malawian economy is dependent on agriculture. Not only does soil loss reduce the cultivable soil depth but it also takes away the fertile soils from the farmlands. The net effect is loss of agricultural productivity, increased expenditure on fertilizers, and a general decline in profitability of crop production. This study is part of the effort of the Government of Malawi (GoM) and its development partners in determining best approach to control the soil loss problems in the country.