Although Malawi has long been celebrated as a tea producer in Africa, many tea drinkers would be unable to describe what brands of tea originate from the country\u2014or even what flavors are associated with these teas. But looking back on Malawi\u2019s long history of tea production illuminates the region\u2019s uniqueness and why smallholder farmers hold the key to its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Look Back<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nMalawi exports approximately<\/a> 31,000 tons of tea annually; more than 90% of the tea produced is black. The large-scale tea industry in Malawi\u2014including companies like Satemwa Tea, Lujeri Tea, and Makandi Tea and Coffee Estates\u2014employs about 50,000 formal workers, making it the biggest employer in a country of 19 million. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/freshcup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/IMG-20220703-WA0006-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlthough most of the tea labor force is employed in a formal setting by big commercial tea farming companies, small-scale farmers make up a tiny but significant portion of the tea industry. Formal tea workers in the country earn well above the minimum wage, but informal and small-scale farmers struggle to make a living solely from tea production, and most grow other crops to supplement their income. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, small-scale farmers are vital to maintaining the diversity and uniqueness of Malawi tea. Even though the country primarily grows black tea, small-scale farmers produce a wider variety of teas<\/a>, including herbal, white, and oolong teas. And that\u2019s no minor feat: Malawi is a landlocked country with fluctuations in climate throughout the year, but despite these challenges, small-scale producers have successfully diversified their crops and created new markets for Malawi tea.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDifferent Resources, Different Outcomes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s clear that tea production is a big business for Malawi, but the challenges of producing tea look different for different stakeholders. As stated above, smallholder farmers make less money than their formally employed counterparts and struggle to get needed resources. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSmallholders in Malawi produce about 10 percent of the country\u2019s total tea,\u201d says Prince Pendame, chairperson of the National Smallholder Tea Growers Association (NSTGA). \u201cWe have a number of challenges that uniquely affect smallholder farmers. First of all, the high cost of seedlings hinders the expansion of tea fields for farmers, and this challenge ties into low and stagnant prices of tea once harvested,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/freshcup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/IMG-20220703-WA0004-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBut perhaps the most glaring issue is that most smallholder farmers have to face high seedling prices and stagnant wages without any sort of government advocates.\u2026[and] \u201cThe third challenge,\u201d Pendame says, \u201cis the lack of government intervention.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unlike other crops like cotton, the Malawi government provides little to no resources to smallholder tea producers. However, the lack of government intervention is not unique to smallholder farmers in the country. In 2015, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) published an analysis of the economic lives of smallholder farmers<\/a>, and lack of government intervention was listed as one challenge farmers faced in nine of the surveyed countries. <\/p>\n\n\n\nOne way the Malawi government could intervene is through agricultural extensions<\/a>. Agricultural extension services include technical advice on agronomy and supplying farmers with the necessary tools and services to support their agricultural production. According to the FAO report, large-scale producers have easier access to these extensions. \u201cInformation on access to extension services is scarce\u2014only a few country household surveys include data on extension services,\u201d it reads. \u201cWhen available, data shows that smallholders have less access to extension services than larger farmers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nProtecting The Diversity of Malawi Tea<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIn addition, Pendame mentioned that many smallholder farmers do not outsource labor, meaning their tea businesses rely on a limited workforce with specialized knowledge. This is why investing in smallholders is crucial: lack of investment will lead to them quitting tea farming for more stable sources of income which will, in turn, affect the diversity of tea production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Pendame emphasized that there is a market for every farmer, and many of the challenges smallholder farmers face can be addressed through education and organizational efforts. In the past, smallholder tea farmers in Malawi have benefited from training opportunities hosted by local and international organizations, including The International Labor Organisation (ILO), The Tea Association of Malawi (TAML), and TrustAfrica. These classes aim to equip tea farmers with up-to-date knowledge of ethical labor practices and modern farming skills, helping them grow their farms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/freshcup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/IMG-20220703-WA0003-1-1024x703.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlthough most of the tea labor force is employed in a formal setting by big commercial tea farming companies, small-scale farmers make up a tiny but significant portion of the tea industry. Formal tea workers in the country earn well above the minimum wage, but informal and small-scale farmers struggle to make a living solely from tea production, and most grow other crops to supplement their income. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, small-scale farmers are vital to maintaining the diversity and uniqueness of Malawi tea. Even though the country primarily grows black tea, small-scale farmers produce a wider variety of teas<\/a>, including herbal, white, and oolong teas. And that\u2019s no minor feat: Malawi is a landlocked country with fluctuations in climate throughout the year, but despite these challenges, small-scale producers have successfully diversified their crops and created new markets for Malawi tea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s clear that tea production is a big business for Malawi, but the challenges of producing tea look different for different stakeholders. As stated above, smallholder farmers make less money than their formally employed counterparts and struggle to get needed resources. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSmallholders in Malawi produce about 10 percent of the country\u2019s total tea,\u201d says Prince Pendame, chairperson of the National Smallholder Tea Growers Association (NSTGA). \u201cWe have a number of challenges that uniquely affect smallholder farmers. First of all, the high cost of seedlings hinders the expansion of tea fields for farmers, and this challenge ties into low and stagnant prices of tea once harvested,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But perhaps the most glaring issue is that most smallholder farmers have to face high seedling prices and stagnant wages without any sort of government advocates.\u2026[and] \u201cThe third challenge,\u201d Pendame says, \u201cis the lack of government intervention.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike other crops like cotton, the Malawi government provides little to no resources to smallholder tea producers. However, the lack of government intervention is not unique to smallholder farmers in the country. In 2015, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) published an analysis of the economic lives of smallholder farmers<\/a>, and lack of government intervention was listed as one challenge farmers faced in nine of the surveyed countries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One way the Malawi government could intervene is through agricultural extensions<\/a>. Agricultural extension services include technical advice on agronomy and supplying farmers with the necessary tools and services to support their agricultural production. According to the FAO report, large-scale producers have easier access to these extensions. \u201cInformation on access to extension services is scarce\u2014only a few country household surveys include data on extension services,\u201d it reads. \u201cWhen available, data shows that smallholders have less access to extension services than larger farmers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, Pendame mentioned that many smallholder farmers do not outsource labor, meaning their tea businesses rely on a limited workforce with specialized knowledge. This is why investing in smallholders is crucial: lack of investment will lead to them quitting tea farming for more stable sources of income which will, in turn, affect the diversity of tea production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, Pendame emphasized that there is a market for every farmer, and many of the challenges smallholder farmers face can be addressed through education and organizational efforts. In the past, smallholder tea farmers in Malawi have benefited from training opportunities hosted by local and international organizations, including The International Labor Organisation (ILO), The Tea Association of Malawi (TAML), and TrustAfrica. These classes aim to equip tea farmers with up-to-date knowledge of ethical labor practices and modern farming skills, helping them grow their farms. <\/p>\n\n\n\nDifferent Resources, Different Outcomes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nProtecting The Diversity of Malawi Tea<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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