Download or read book Malawi s agrifood system structure and drivers of transformation written by Diao, Xinshen and published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst. This book was released on 2023-07-14 with total page 14 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Malawi experienced modest growth from 2009 to 2019, with average annual GDP growth of 4.7 percent. The global COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant slowdown in 2020 and 2021, and the economy has not yet rebounded to pre-pandemic levels (World Bank 2023). At the time of writing, GDP is projected to grow at 2.4 percent in 2023, which in combination with population growth of 2.7 percent would result in a 0.3 percent contraction of GDP per capita (IMF 2023). At the core of the failure to resume pre-pandemic economic growth rates are a worsening debt crisis, a balance of payment crisis, an acute shortage of foreign exchange reserves, and several external shocks (World Bank 2022). The latter include the effects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the devastation caused by cyclone Freddy in 2023 (De Weerdt and Duchoslav 2022; Diao et al. 2022).

Download or read book Patterns of change in Malawi s economy under sector focused investment strategies Results of scenarios run through 2030 using an economy wide model for Malawi written by Benson, Todd and published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst. This book was released on 2020-01-23 with total page 16 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Malawi’s economic future is dependent upon a transformation of the economy that will involve increased economic productivity overall and considerable movement of labor and capital out of agriculture and into manufacturing and services. A dynamic Computable General Equilibrium model of the economy of Malawi was used to better understand the development gains that would be realized by 2030 through significantly increasing separately the productivity of each of the three sectors of the Malawian economy – agriculture, industry, and services. The scenarios run in the model involved increasing by 20 percent from current levels the annual growth rate in total factor productivity for each of the three sectors. The results show important trade-offs in the choice of which sector should receive emphasis in any economic development strategy. A services-led strategy would result in higher economic growth overall and broadly rising incomes, contributing the most to a structural transformation of the Malawi economy. However, the principal beneficiaries of increased investment to improve productivity in the services sector will be better-off households. In contrast, an agriculture-focused strategy would better meet the needs of the poor and their access to food, but would result in continued lagging growth for Malawi’s economy and many poorer households continuing to be unable to obtain sufficient income to exit their poverty and realize much better lives for themselves and their children. The industrial sector currently is much smaller than either the agriculture or services sectors, particularly in terms of employment, so significant increases in productivity growth in industry results in smaller benefits overall than comparable increases in agriculture or services.

Download or read book From Falling Behind to Catching Up written by Richard Record and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2017-11-22 with total page 129 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Despite decades of development efforts supported by significant amounts of foreign aid, Malawi has experienced weak and volatile economic growth performance over a sustained period of time. Malawi’s growth remains an outlier even compared to its geographically and demographically similar peers. Moreover, growth has been distributed unequally, with little impact on poverty. Per capita income has improved only minimally in the 50 years since independence, and Malawi now has one of the lowest per capita incomes in the world. From Falling Behind to Catching Up aims to improve readers’ understanding of the puzzle of Malawi’s development performance and identify ways for the country to achieve robust growth and stay on a stable growth path that helps the poor. The book places a strong emphasis on assessing Malawi’s growth experience since independence from a comparative international perspective. It seeks to benchmark Malawian outcomes on growth, structural change, and transformation against peers and explores possible reasons for divergence from international trends. The book also puts deeper drivers of economic growth at the center of the discussion, looking in particular at the institutions and policies that may have affected Malawi’s growth outcomes and ones that could help Malawi avoid macroeconomic instability in the future. This book first begins by discussing Malawi’s macroeconomic situation and challenges in fiscal management, reviewing and drawing lessons from the instability, slippages, and shocks Malawi has experienced since independence. Second, given how critical the agricultural sector is to poverty reduction in Malawi, the overview explores the current state of agricultural markets. Third, looking at the factors that may constrain higher growth in the future, challenges in private sector development and job creation are discussed. Finally, building on the analysis of challenges, the book concludes with a summary of policy recommendations aimed at helping Malawi begin catching up with its peers.

Download or read book Malawi s challenging employment landscape Any signs of structural transformation Synopsis written by Baulch, Bob and published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst. This book was released on with total page 4 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This policy note examines employment patterns for evidence of the extent to which a structural transformation is underway in Malawi. We explore whether Malawi’s labor force shifted out of the subsistence agriculture sector and into the industry and service sectors. To better understand the role of the large youth population in structural transformation, we assess the extent of youth employment in agriculture and in services, and the factors shaping their choices. We conclude with a discussion of how policy can support transformation and job creation for youth.

Download or read book Structural Transformation and Poverty in Malawi written by Rui Benfica and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This paper aims to identify the main drivers of poverty reduction in Malawi. Using an augmented poverty decomposition methodology, it explores in what way the different farm and non-farm economic activities contribute to poverty reduction and income growth. The analysis also examines how household occupation and spatial mobility support both poverty reduction and household welfare improvements. Findings show that the increase in non-farm self-employment is the most significant contributor to poverty reduction overall, even though agriculture still exerts a considerable and positive influence, especially due to the size of the population involved and the observance of agricultural growth."--

Download or read book Are the drivers of production and sales of maize groundnut and soyabean by farming households in Malawi changing Analysis of recent household surveys written by Jolex, Aubrey and published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst. This book was released on 2021-11-03 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: By directing increasing shares of their farm production to the market and, thereby, realizing greater incomes, farming households can accelerate local rural economic development. In this study, we examine household and spatial factors that may drive smallholder farming households in Malawi to produce and sell maize, groundnut, and soyabean. Two cross-sectional analyses are done using household level data from rounds of the Malawi Integrated Household Survey (IHS). First, using data for farming households from the fifth IHS (2019/20) in a series of weighted logistical models, we examine which of a set of household and spatial level factors are associated with a household producing each of the three crops. For maize and groundnut, we extend the analysis by similarly identifying the factors associated with whether a producing household sells any of their maize or groundnut, and if, they do, whether they sell more than half of their harvest. The second analysis consists of replicating the logistical models for production and sales using household data from the fourth IHS (2016/17) and comparing those results to the results obtained from the fifth IHS. This is done to identify whether any drivers of the production and sale of the three crops are changing over time. Overall, only a few factors are consistently associated with a farming household choosing to produce a particular crop or to sell part of their production of the crop. We also see limited changes between 2016/17 and 2019/20 in the drivers of the production and sale of these crops. However, the strength of the positive associations between landholding size and the commercial production of the three crops intensified between the two surveys. This suggests that as landholdings become smaller with continuing population growth, commercial production will increasingly be limited to those households with the largest landholdings. Government and other stakeholders in rural economic development can consider the evidence from these analyses in developing strategies to foster greater diversity in employment in rural economies across Malawi away from agriculture, while nonetheless promoting increased production by those smallholders in a position to participate profitably in the value chains for these crops.

Download or read book From Falling Behind to Catching Up written by Richard Record and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Despite decades of development efforts supported by significant amounts of foreign aid, Malawi has experienced weak and volatile economic growth performance over a sustained period of time. Malawi's growth remains an outlier even compared to its geographically and demographically similar peers. Moreover, growth has been distributed unequally, with little impact on poverty. Per capita income has improved only minimally in the 50 years since independence, and Malawi now has one of the lowest per capita incomes in the world. From Falling Behind to Catching Up aims to improve readers' understanding of the puzzle of Malawi's development performance and identify ways for the country to achieve robust growth and stay on a stable growth path that helps the poor. The book places a strong emphasis on assessing Malawi's growth experience since independence from a comparative international perspective. It seeks to benchmark Malawian outcomes on growth, structural change, and transformation against peers and explores possible reasons for divergence from international trends. The book also puts deeper drivers of economic growth at the center of the discussion, looking in particular at the institutions and policies that may have affected Malawi's growth outcomes and ones that could help Malawi avoid macroeconomic instability in the future. This book first begins by discussing Malawi's macroeconomic situation and challenges in fiscal management, reviewing and drawing lessons from the instability, slippages, and shocks Malawi has experienced since independence. Second, given how critical the agricultural sector is to poverty reduction in Malawi, the overview explores the current state of agricultural markets. Third, looking at the factors that may constrain higher growth in the future, challenges in private sector development and job creation are discussed. Finally, building on the analysis of challenges, the book concludes with a summary of policy recommendations aimed at helping Malawi begin catching up with its peers.

Download or read book Transforming Food Systems for a Rising India written by Prabhu Pingali and published by Springer. This book was released on 2019-05-14 with total page 382 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This open access book examines the interactions between India’s economic development, agricultural production, and nutrition through the lens of a “Food Systems Approach (FSA).” The Indian growth story is a paradoxical one. Despite economic progress over the past two decades, regional inequality, food insecurity and malnutrition problems persist. Simultaneously, recent trends in obesity along with micro-nutrient deficiency portend to a future public health crisis. This book explores various challenges and opportunities to achieve a nutrition-secure future through diversified production systems, improved health and hygiene environment and greater individual capability to access a balanced diet contributing to an increase in overall productivity. The authors bring together the latest data and scientific evidence from the country to map out the current state of food systems and nutrition outcomes. They place India within the context of other developing country experiences and highlight India’s status as an outlier in terms of the persistence of high levels of stunting while following global trends in obesity. This book discusses the policy and institutional interventions needed for promoting a nutrition-sensitive food system and the multi-sectoral strategies needed for simultaneously addressing the triple burden of malnutrition in India.

Download or read book Agricultural Input Subsidies written by Ephraim Chirwa and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 2013-09-26 with total page 315 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book takes forward our understanding of agricultural input subsidies in low income countries.

Download or read book National Agricultural Investment Plan NAIP written by Malawi. Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Water Development and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Structure conduct and performance of maize markets in Malawi written by Ochieng, Dennis O. and published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst. This book was released on 2019-08-21 with total page 63 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Seasonal analysis of the structure, conduct, and performance (SCP) of markets for staple crops has received relatively little attention in food policy analysis yet it has important implications for food and nutrition security. This study employs a mixed methods approach to analyze the SCP of maize markets in Malawi in the 2018/19 main harvest and lean seasons. We interviewed 749 traders from 74 markets across 8 districts, held 28 focus group discussions (FGD) with a total of 480 farmers and analyzed daily and weekly price data from 13 regional markets. The structure of maize markets was explored by examining marketing channels, barriers to entry and the competitiveness of different tiers of the marketing chain. Inequality in sales revenues, switches in trader types between seasons, quality and weights standardization, and the behavior of traders were used to examine market conduct. Performance was assessed by examining traders’ costs and margins, and the spatial and temporal integration of maize markets. We find that Malawi’s maize market is pyramidal in structure and highly competitive at lower tiers of trade but ‘oligopolistic’ at higher tiers. The market channels vary across seasons with switches between trader types and instances of rural-urban trade reversals. There is considerable inequality of sales revenues among traders of similar capacities, and a widespread lack of structured trading despite existing institutions. A high ratio of marketing costs to revenue suggests marketing inefficiencies. Malawi maize prices were highly seasonal and more volatile than neighboring countries. In contrast to previous studies, our findings show weak spatial integration of markets and slow price adjustments to long-run equilibrium values even among short-distance market pairs. The study highlights five pathways to improving Malawi’s maize marketing system: (1) increased policy predictability to promote private-sector investment; (2) institutionalization of quality grades and standardization of weights and measures; (3) increased commercialization of smallholder maize production; (4) investment in enabling infrastructure; and (5) the promotion of structured trading.

Download or read book Gridded Livestock of the World 2007 written by William Wint and published by Food & Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO). This book was released on 2007 with total page 148 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Informed livestock-sector policy development and planning requires reliable and accessible information about the distribution and abundance of livestock. To that end, and in collaboration with the Environmental Research Group Oxford (ERGO), FAO has developed the “Gridded livestock of the world” spatial database: the first standardized global, subnational resolution maps of the major agricultural livestock species. This publication describes how available livestock data have been collected and then enhanced by statistical modelling to produce a digital, georeferenced global dataset. It also provides varied and extensive examples of some of the applications for which the data have been used. The publication is intended to provide a formal reference for the dataset and to stimulate further applications and feedback from those most concerned with the development of the livestock sector, be they policy-makers, researchers, producers or practitioners in livestock-sector development.

Download or read book 2020 Global food policy report Building inclusive food systems written by International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst. This book was released on 2020-04-06 with total page 110 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Food systems are at a critical juncture—they are evolving quickly to meet growing and changing demand but are not serving everyone’s needs. Building more inclusive food systems can bring a wide range of economic and development benefits to all people, especially the poor and disadvantaged. IFPRI’s 2020 Global Food Policy Report examines the policies and investments and the growing range of tools and technologies that can promote inclusion. Chapters examine the imperative of inclusion, challenges faced by smallholders, youth, women, and conflict-affected people, and the opportunities offered by expanding agrifood value chains and national food system transformations. Critical questions addressed include: How can inclusive food systems help break the intergenerational cycle of poverty and malnutrition? \What can be done to strengthen the midstream of food value chains to improve rural access to jobs, markets, and services? Will Africa’s food systems generate sufficient jobs for the growing youth population? How can women be empowered within food system processes, from household decisions to policymaking? Can refugees and other conflict-affected people be integrated into food systems to help them rebuild their lives? How can national food system transformations contribute to greater dietary diversity, food safety, and food quality for all? Regional sections look at how inclusion can be improved around the world in 2020 and beyond. The report also presents interesting trends revealed by IFPRI’s food policy indicators and datasets.

Download or read book Ninth Revolution The Transforming Food Systems For Good written by Sayed Nader Azam-ali and published by World Scientific. This book was released on 2021-06-18 with total page 401 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: We are at a critical point in human history and that of the planet. In this book, a world leader in agricultural research, Professor Sayed Azam-Ali, proposes a radical transformation of our agrifood system. He argues that agriculture must be understood as part of global biodiversity and that food systems have cultural, nutritional, and social values beyond market price alone. He describes the perilous risks of relying on just four staple crops for most of our food and the consequences of our current agrifood model on human and planetary health.In plain language for the wider public, students, researchers, and policy makers, Azam-Ali envisions the agrifood system as a global public good in which its practitioners include a new and different generation of farmers, its production systems link novel and traditional technologies, and its activities encompass landscapes, urban spaces, and controlled environments. The book concludes with a call to action in which diversification of species, systems, knowledge, cultures, and products all contribute to The Ninth Revolution that will transform food systems for good.Related Link(s)

Download or read book Ghana s Economic and Agricultural Transformation written by Xinshen Diao and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2019 with total page 310 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Using Ghana as a case study, this work integrates economic and political analysis to explore the challenges and opportunities of Africa's growth and transformation.

Download or read book Progress towards sustainable agriculture Drivers of change written by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and published by Food & Agriculture Org.. This book was released on 2021-12-06 with total page 102 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Progress towards Sustainable Agriculture initiative (PROSA) is a framework that seeks to complement ongoing efforts on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and particularly indicator 2.4.1, to support country-level assessments using data already available at the national level. Making agriculture more sustainable – productive, environmentally friendly, resilient and profitable is fundamental, as agriculture remains the main source of livelihood for the majority of the world’s poor and hungry. The pathway towards sustainable agriculture must ensure increasing output, but also make more efficient use of increasingly scarce global resources, be resilient to and help mitigate climate change, and improve human well-being. This technical study examines the key factors driving changes in trends in the indicators of sustainable agriculture and provides decision-makers with insights into viable options for achieving this goal. The study identifies five key groups of drivers that most influence these indicators globally. The ways in which each driver affects the multiple dimensions of sustainability highlights the interconnections, synergies and trade-offs that must be managed in different global contexts to achieve agricultural sustainability. The analysis can help decision-makers operating in different country contexts to identify practical solutions to ensure that their interventions contribute positively to a more sustainable agriculture.

Download or read book OECD FAO Agricultural Outlook 2021 2030 written by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and published by Food & Agriculture Org.. This book was released on 2021-07-05 with total page 337 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Agricultural Outlook 2021-2030 is a collaborative effort of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. It brings together the commodity, policy and country expertise of both organisations as well as input from collaborating member countries to provide an annual assessment of the prospects for the coming decade of national, regional and global agricultural commodity markets. The publication consists of 11 Chapters; Chapter 1 covers agricultural and food markets; Chapter 2 provides regional outlooks and the remaining chapters are dedicated to individual commodities.