Malawi is being urged to invest more in processing agricultural products locally instead of relying heavily on exports of raw commodities.
At the National Agri-Food Systems Investment Symposium in Lilongwe, Minister of Industrialization, Business, Trade and Tourism Simon Itaye called for greater private-sector investment in agro-processing and agricultural value chains.
The approach could help local businesses turn crops into higher-value products, create employment and expand opportunities for smallholder farmers. For example, processing groundnuts into packaged peanut butter or soybeans into cooking oil can create additional economic activity beyond selling the raw crop.
Agriculture remains central to Malawi’s economy, accounting for a substantial share of national output, employment and export earnings. However, expanding processing capacity requires reliable electricity, financing, appropriate technology, transport infrastructure and access to markets.
The opportunity: Local processing could help Malawi retain more value from its agricultural production while creating opportunities for entrepreneurs and workers.