Editing Economy of Malawi (section)

==Agriculture==
{{main|Agriculture in Malawi}}
{{see also|Tobacco industry}}
Malawi's most important export crop is [[tobacco]], which accounted for a third (30%) of export revenue in 2012.<ref>{{Cite book|title=African Economic Outlook|publisher=African Development Bank, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and United Nations Development Programme|year=2014}}</ref> In 2000, the country was the tenth-largest producer in the world. The country's heavy reliance on tobacco places a heavy burden on the economy as world prices decline and the international community increases pressure to limit [[Tobacco industry|tobacco production]]. [[Malawi]]'s dependence on tobacco is growing, with the product jumping from 53% to 70% of export revenues between 2007 and 2008.<ref>CIA World Factbook</ref><ref>J. Tyler Dickovick, ''Africa 2008'', 43rd edition, Harpers Ferry, WV: Stryker-Post Publications, 2008. p. 278</ref>

[[File:Malawi Tea Estate.jpg|thumb|240px|A Malawi [[tea]] estate]]The country also relies heavily on [[tea]], [[sugarcane]] and [[coffee]], with these three plus tobacco making up more than 90% of Malawi's export revenue. Tea was first introduced in 1878. Most of it is grown in [[Mulanje]] and [[Thyolo]]. Other crops include [[Cotton in Malawi|cotton]], [[Maize|corn]], [[potato]]es, [[sorghum]], [[cattle]] and [[goat]]s. Tobacco and sugar processing are notable secondary industries.

Traditionally Malawi has been self-sufficient in its staple food, [[maize]] (corn), and during the 1980s it exported substantial quantities to its [[drought]]-stricken neighbors. Nearly 90% of the population engages in subsistence farming. [[Smallholding|Smallholder]] farmers produce a variety of crops, including maize, [[bean]]s, [[rice]], [[cassava]], tobacco, and [[peanut|groundnut]]s (peanuts). Financial wealth is generally concentrated in the hands of a small elite. Malawi's manufacturing industries are situated around the city of [[Blantyre, Malawi|Blantyre]].

[[Lake Malawi]] and [[Lake Chilwa]] provide most of the fish for the region. For many Malawians, fish is the most important source of proteins. Dried fish is not only consumed locally, but also exported to neighboring countries. Most fishing is done on small scale by hand. However, Maldeco Fisheries owns several commercial fishing boats and operates fish farms in the southern part of Lake Malawi.[[File:Beach on Likoma Island, Malawi.JPG|thumb|Dried fish on Likoma Island]]

Malawi has few exploitable [[mineral]] resources. A South-African Australian consortium exploits uranium at a mine near [[Karonga]]. Coal is being extracted in [[Mzimba]] District. Malawi's economic reliance on the export of agricultural commodities renders it particularly vulnerable to external shocks such as declining terms of trade and drought. High transport costs, which can comprise over 30% of its total import bill, constitute a serious impediment to [[economic development]] and trade. Malawi must import all its fuel products. Other challenges include a paucity of [[skilled labor]], difficulty in obtaining expatriate employment permits, bureaucratic [[red tape]], [[Political corruption|corruption]], and inadequate and deteriorating road, electricity, water, and [[telecommunications]] infrastructure which hinder economic development in Malawi. However, recent government initiatives targeting improvements in the road infrastructure, together with private sector participation in railroad and telecommunications, have begun to render the investment environment more attractive.
[[File:Blantyre.JPG|thumb|240px|Roadside vendor in [[Blantyre, Malawi|Blantyre]]]]

The following are Malawi's top 20 agricultural production values and volumes for 2009. (Unofficial figures derived from FAO statistics) <ref name="faostat.fao.org">{{Cite web|url=http://faostat.fao.org/site/339/default.aspx|title = Faostat}}</ref>
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="vertical-align:top;"
! Commodity
! Production in [[Geary–Khamis dollar|International dollars]] (1000)
! Production in [[ton]]nes
! [[FAO]] source
|-
| [[Maize]]
| 462,330
| 3,582,500
|
|-
| [[Cassava]]
| 404,764
| 3,823,240
|
|-
| [[Tobacco]]
| 331,542
| 208,155
|
|-
| [[Peanut|Groundnuts]]
| 116,638
| 275,176
|
|-
| [[Banana]]s (excluding plantains)
| 95,152
| 400,000
| F
|-
| [[Sugar cane]]
| 82,093
| 2,500,000
| F
|-
| Indigenous [[beef cattle|cattle meat]]
| 80,688
| 0
|
|-
| [[Pigeon pea]]s
| 80,274
| 184,156
|
|-
| [[Pulse (legume)|Beans, dry]]
| 75,706
| 164,712
|
|-
| [[Fruit|Fresh fruit]]
| 74,456
| 213,321
| Im
|-
| [[Plantain (cooking)|Plantain]]s
| 72,634
| 351,812
| Im
|-
| Indigenous [[Pork|pig meat]]
| 68,788
| 0
|
|-
| [[Tea]]
| 55,895
| 52,559
| P
|-
| Indigenous [[goat meat]]
| 53,512
| 0
|
|-
| [[Mango]]es, [[mangosteen]]s and [[guava]]s
| 49,527
| 82,659
| Im
|-
| [[Cotton#Uses|Cotton lint]]
| 39,017
| 27,300
| F
|-
| [[Rice|Paddy rice]]
| 36,896
| 135,988
|
|-
| [[Vegetables|Fresh vegetables]]
| 30,530
| 162,012
| Im
|-
| Indigenous [[Chicken|chicken meat]]
| 25,713
| 0
|
|-
| [[Cowpea|Cow peas]]
| 18,073
| 72,082
|
|}
<small>Key:
F : FAO estimate, Im: FAO data based on imputation methodology, P : Provisional official data</small>