The Political Economy of Agricultural Commercialistion in Malawi

This brief examines the evolution and political economy of agricultural commercialisation in Malawi since the 1960s

Abstract

Malawi is a predominantly agrarian economy. With around 85 percent of the country’s population relying on agriculture for their livelihoods, it is estimated that the sector makes up as much as 35 percent of GDP, 80 percent of export earnings, and 70 percent of total rural income. Underpinning both Malawi’s industrial and manufacturing sectors, agriculture is integral to any concerted effort aimed at achieving inclusive growth, and therefore lies at the heart of Malawi’s political economy. This brief, which is based on a longer paper, examines the evolution and political economy of agricultural commercialisation in Malawi since the 1960s, from both a historical and a contemporary perspective.

This work is part of the APRA (Agricultural Policy Research Policy in Africa) Programme

Citation

Chinsinga, B. (2019) The Political Economy of Agricultural Commercialisation in Malawi, APRA Brief 13, Future Agricultures Consortium

APRA Brief 13: The Political Economy of Agricultural Commercialistion in Malawi

Updates to this page

Published 12 February 2019