Tag Archives: Malawi

According to allcountrylist, Malawi is a landlocked country in southern Africa, with an economy heavily dependent on agriculture. Agriculture accounts for about 37% of GDP and employs about 80% of the labor force. The main crops are maize, beans, sorghum, millet and groundnuts. Other crops include rice, cassava and tobacco. Fishing is also an important sector in Malawi as it provides employment to about 500 thousand people and accounts for 4% of GDP. The majority of fish caught are used for human consumption while some are exported to other countries. Livestock is another important economic activity in Malawi with cattle being the most widely raised animal species followed by poultry and pigs. The country exports hides and skins as well as meat to other countries while some products are used domestically for consumption or sale in local markets. Mining is another major sector in Malawi, with minerals such as coal, uranium, bauxite, antimony and lithium being extracted from the country’s rich deposits. Other minerals extracted include gold ore which is exported to other countries for processing or sale on international markets. Manufacturing is also a significant contributor to GDP with textiles being the most important industry followed by food processing and construction materials production. Agriculture has been an important part of Malawi’s history since ancient times. The country’s rich soils, plentiful rainfall and long growing season have allowed for a variety of crop production, which has been used to feed local communities and trade with other countries. During the colonial period, Malawi began to expand its agricultural industry by introducing new crops such as cotton and tobacco. These crops were grown by small-scale farmers who relied heavily on manual labor and traditional farming techniques. After independence in 1964, the government implemented various policies to further develop the agricultural sector in order to promote economic growth. These measures included expanding access to credit and providing training and support to farmers in order to improve their yields. Today, agriculture accounts for over 80% of Malawi’s GDP with most of the country’s population relying on it for their livelihoods. The main crops grown are maize, cassava, sorghum, millet, groundnuts and pulses while animal husbandry is also an important component in many areas providing dairy products such as milk and eggs as well as beef and poultry products. In recent years there has been increased focus on diversifying agricultural production in order to ensure food security for the country’s growing population while also providing sustainable income opportunities for farmers. In addition, efforts are being made to reduce reliance on rain-fed agriculture by introducing irrigation systems as well as new technologies such as mechanization and fertilizers which can help increase yields from fewer resources. See smber for Malawi Agriculture and Fishing.