The Tea Association of Malawi (Taml) is considering investing in macadamia production following the drop in demand for Malawi tea on the international market.
The tea sector is grappling with various challenges, including changes in climatic patterns and Taml Chief Executive Officer, Clement Thindwa ,said the sector is looking at Macadamia as an alternative crop.
“Most tea estates are diversifying into other crops. Mainly we are focusing on macadamia which is profitable and markets are readily available internationally,” said Thindwa.
Thindwa further said even though tea prices have stabilised this year, rising competition from Kenya is likely to push prices down.
“Kenya is influential on the international market and is producing 500,000 metric tonnes while we are only doing 48,000 metric tonnes,” he said.
He further said Kenya normally has eight to nine months of rainfall which makes their production better and of good quality.
“Malawi only has three months of rainfall which is not adequate. During the three months that’s when we have higher production. Apart from diversifying, we are also currently working at irrigation farming,” said Thindwa.
He also explained that Malawi is disadvantaged in terms of tea production due to geographical position and lack of land to produce more.
“Most estates do not have land to expand that is why currently, we are targeting smallholder farmers as they have capacity to improve the production,” said Thindwa.
Tea is Malawi’s second major foreign exchange earner after tobacco.
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