Sowing the Status Quo: How Crop Diversification Is Failing Tobacco Farmers in Malawi

Abstract

Executive Summary: Malawi, one of the top 10 global tobacco producers, is the fourth-poorest country in the world, according to World Bank estimates.1 Tobacco is the nation’s No. 1 export, but 95% of tobacco growers are smallholder farmers. Many struggle to make a decent living. As tobacco use declines globally, the government has recognized the need to reduce the country’s reliance on the crop. However, tobacco has had a disproportionate influence on the agricultural sector since at least the 1980s, and industry interference is believed to be a key barrier to progress in diversifying crops. While the government has largely allowed the industry to be centrally involved in diversification efforts, skepticism exists regarding the tobacco industry's true motives.
Sustainable Development Initiative (SDI), in collaboration with STOP, a global tobacco industry watchdog, investigated the industry’s role in hindering farmers' transition away from tobacco. As part of the investigation, SDI reviewed publicly available documents and previously published research, and gathered first-hand perspectives from 160 farmers and 14 key informants with connections to tobacco cultivation in Malawi.