Malawi is a landlocked southern African country with a population of more than 18 million people. Malawi’s agricultural sector contributes 37% to the GDP and 85% to export revenues. The sector is characterized by two partial structures: on the one hand, there are about two million small farmer operations which generate about 80% of Malawi’s food production, and on the other hand, the large tobacco, sugar and tea plantations generate over 80% of the agricultural exports. Some of the key supply chains include maize, tobacco, sugar, soybeans, peanut, cassava, tea, potatoes and sunflower. The production of tobacco has decreased dramatically due to the reduced demand. Thus, the national export strategy has seen a shift to diversify revenues through other cash crops (e.g. chickpeas) and value-adding activities (e.g. processing). The national diet is heavily reliant on maize predominantly, and potato and cassava to a lesser extent. Child stunting, which affects 40% of children, represents a significant challenge in Malawi. Meanwhile, obesity and overweight rates have almost doubled in women of reproductive age. This points to a nation-wide micronutrient deficiency.
Read the full country dossier here, see our Malawi farmer innovation contest page here, and read the country innovation study on the status of agricultural innovations, innovation platforms and innovation investments in Malawi here.
Malawi on 
Published as ZEF Working Paper No. 166.
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Further information about the farmer innovation contests organised by PARI in Africa can be found here.Read more Recognizing and rewarding farmers’ creativity through contests: experiences and insights from four African countries
Dossiers available for download by country (October 2017).Read more Innovation for Sustainable Agricultural Growth – 12 Country Dossiers
Published as E.E. Rezaei and T. Giaser, ZEF Discussion Papers on Development Policy No. 239
Download paper.Read more Change in crop management strategies could double the maize yield in Africa
Download the poster (3.6 Mb).Read more PARI Poster: Recognizing Farmer Innovators in Africa
The ReSAKSS Country eAtlases is a GIS-based mapping tool designed to help policy analysts and policymakers access and use high quality and highly disaggregated data on agricultural, socio-economic, and bio-physical indicators to guide agricultural policy and investment decisions.
The Innovation Studies for the 12 African PARI countries provide an overview of the status of agricultural innovations, innovation platforms and innovation investment in the respective country. Read more Country Innovation Studies
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A study for the special initiative “One World, No Hunger” of the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
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Summary of a report on potentials and possibilities for German collaboration in agriculture in the 12 PARI countries.
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Read more Report on Potentials and Cooperation Opportunities in African Countries
Dossiers available for download by country and as a complete collection (September 2015) .Read more Potentials and Possibilities for German Collaboration in Agriculture – 12 Country Dossiers
Published as: ZEF Discussion Papers on Development Policy No. 200.
Download paper.Read more Regional trade and volatility in staple food markets in Africa