Revitalizing Malawi’s Coffee Sector: A Catalyst for Economic Growth

Key Business Points

• Reforms are needed to create a conducive environment for coffee growers and other actors in the value chain to thrive, according to stakeholders in the industry.
• Inclusion of coffee production in school curricula is recommended to build a knowledgeable and skilled generation to drive the industry forward, as suggested by United Nations Industrial Development Organisation National Agriculture Expert Henry Mloza Banda.
• Addressing challenges faced by coffee producers, such as climate change, mechanisation, and market access, is crucial to boost the sector’s growth and competitiveness, as highlighted by coffee growers like Caroline Kaluwa from Nkhata Bay Highlands Cooperative.

The coffee industry in Malawi is facing several challenges that need to be addressed to create a conducive environment for growers and other actors to thrive. During the first-ever national symposium on coffee held in Mzuzu City, stakeholders discussed the need for reforms to drive the industry forward. Introducing coffee farming in the school syllabus is seen as a key strategy to build a knowledgeable and skilled generation to drive the industry forward. This move is expected to help learners understand the crop, its value chain, and economic importance, which is key to the long-term growth of the sector.

Coffee growers, such as Caroline Kaluwa from Nkhata Bay Highlands Cooperative, highlighted the challenges they face due to climate change, which has led to prolonged dry seasons. They also struggle to embrace mechanisation due to the geographical setting of their farms, most of which are in highlands. Additionally, they face difficulties in finding markets for their coffee, with vendors from other countries being the primary buyers. Zinthu zikugwira ntchito, or making things work, is a common phrase in Chichewa that reflects the resourcefulness and resilience of Malawian entrepreneurs, but even they need support to overcome these challenges.

The government is promoting the Buy Malawi Strategy to boost local coffee uptake alongside exports. With the global supply of coffee being low, Malawi has an opportunity to grow and supply more coffee to the market. The Assistant Director in the Ministry of Industrialisation, Business, Trade and Tourism, Lusungu Mwaungulu, emphasized the need to increase domestic consumption of coffee. Kugula za Malawi, or buying Malawian products, is a crucial aspect of this strategy, which aims to promote local industries and support economic growth.

The National Coordinator of the Investment Symposium, Seth Tembo, said the platform was organized to build a stronger coffee value chain. By bringing together financiers and non-governmental organizations, the symposium aimed to create solutions and address issues of mechanisation and improve production. Some of the cooperatives that participated in the two-day symposium include Phoka Coffee Growers, Ntchisi East, and Nkhata Bay Highlands Cooperative. Umodzi, or unity, is essential in the coffee industry, where collaboration and cooperation can help address common challenges and drive growth. As the industry moves forward, it is essential to prioritize the needs of coffee growers and other actors in the value chain to create a thriving and competitive sector.

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