The Tea Association of Malawi (Taml) says although the sector is faced with various structural challenges which are limiting its growth, the association says it has embarked on various projects to ensure that the sector maintains its competitive edge on the international market.
Just recently, a delegation from Taml went to London, the United Kingdom, where it held discussions with potential buyers as part of on-going negotiations under the ‘Malawi 2020 Tea Industry Revitalization Programme.’
The programme is part of efforts Taml is implementing, seeking to enhance Malawi’s tea value chain with the ultimate goal of creating a more profitable and sustainable tea industry.
Taml believes that with the right interventions, the tea sector can be positioned to make an even greater contribution to the socio-economic development of the country.
Taml Chief Executive Officer, Clement Thindwa, said there are enormous structural challenges that are holding back the industry and that if nothing is done to address the shortfalls, there is great potential that the sector may lose its competitive position as a profitable tea growing country.
“This is due to a combination of factors including low prices, rising production costs, seasonal production and challenging business environment resulting in high cost of doing business,” Thindwa said.
But Thindwa said the Revitalisation Programme is the most ambitious in the entire history of the industry as it aims at total rejuvenation of the country’s tea sector.
“Taml remains the largest formal labour employer and second largest generator of foreign exchange for Malawi. The industry is therefore a key pillar to the country’s economy and deserves the attention it is currently receiving from the tea fraternity” said Thindwa.
The Revitalisation programme consortium was formed through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2015 and comprises representatives from the Ethical Tea Partnership, GIZ, Oxfam, tea buyers and the Tea Association of Malawi
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