Malawi: AGRA pushes soybeans and groundnuts to reduce dependence on tobacco

MALAWI – Malawi has an opportunity to break free from its reliance on tobacco by expanding production and trade in soybeans, groundnuts, and horticultural crops, according to the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).

Jonathan Said, AGRA’s Vice President and Head of its Centre of Technical Expertise, believes Malawi has a unique chance to reshape its economy through agriculture.

Speaking after a recent visit, he said, “Soybeans and groundnuts have the potential to be larger than tobacco in terms of forex earnings and to create youth work opportunities on a large scale.”

He added, “If Malawi can coordinate across government, private sector and farmer groups, export revenue could double in the next 5-10 years.”

To make this shift, AGRA is working with the Ministry of Agriculture and private sector partners to strengthen crop research, improve seed laws, and support the Mega Farms initiative.

These farms, which range from 20 to 100 hectares, serve as anchor farms that link smallholders to finance, inputs, and markets.

Said stressed the importance of strong value chains to connect farmers to processors who can produce cooking oil, soy milk, peanut butter, baby food, animal feed, and industrial emulsifiers.

“These value chains are critical not just for export earnings, but also for nutrition, soil health, women’s empowerment and climate adaptation,” he explained.

Youth and leadership at the centre

AGRA has also made youth a priority through programs like the Mastercard Foundation-supported Youth Empowerment in Agribusiness and Food Systems Framework and the Norway-backed Malawi Agricultural Cluster Initiative.

These programs have mobilised hundreds of thousands of young people into farmer groups, provided training, and connected them to finance, land, and agro-processors.

Said, who previously worked as an economic advisor in Malawi’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, argued that the presidency must guide this transition.

“The presidency has the power to align actors and keep focus on solving bottlenecks in extension, seeds, digitalisation, mechanisation and finance,” he said.

“We’ve seen glimpses of this through the President’s Delivery Unit and the National Planning Commission, but it needs to be accelerated.”

Malawi already earns a premium for its GMO-free soybeans in global markets, especially in livestock feed.

Groundnuts also show strong promise, with estimated export earnings of US$48.4 million, though more than half remains unrealized due to weak value chains and limited processing.

Despite challenges like climate change and market swings, Said remains confident. “Malawi has all the ingredients. With leadership, focus and coordination, agriculture can finally become the engine of inclusive growth that Malawians have long been waiting for.”

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