Space, Markets and Employment in Agricultural Development: Malawi

Investigates the spatial and institutional linkages between agricultural development and non-farm employment in Malawi

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
30 June 2015
Country:
Malawi
Document Type:
Research Paper
Theme:
Agriculture, Economic Growth
Authors:
Chirwa, E.W., Matita, M

Abstract

The objective of the study was to investigate the spatial and institutional linkages between agricultural development and non-farm employment in the rural areas of Malawi. Specifically, first we explored the nature of spatial and institutional linkages that connect agriculture with non-farm employment, and the implications for employment, poverty, vulnerability and food security. Second, we developed an understanding of which kinds of agricultural development (with reference to scale, capital intensity, value chain governance and local political and administrative institutions) could support broad-based, employment-intensive rural development.

The 4 main questions investigated in the study were:

  1. How are farm/non-farm linkages affected by spatial arrangements of production, processing, and market access, and by the organisation and governance of value chains?
  2. How are they affected by the social, institutional and political arrangements and relationships that shape these ‘real market’ relations and forms of economic coordination?
  3. How are they shaped by the scale and capital intensity of agricultural investment and development models? Do large-scale agri-investment and small farmer development have significantly different impacts on non-farm employment?
  4. What are the gendered poverty and employment impacts of different local spatial articulations of farm/non-farm employment?

There is a research report and a policy brief

This research is part of the ‘Space, Markets and Employment in Agricultural Development: Case Studies from Southern Africa’ project

Citation

Ephraim Chirwa, Mirriam Matita (2015) Space, Markets and Employment in Agricultural Development: Malawi country report. Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies Research Report No. 45

Ephraim Chirwa, Mirriam Matita (2015) Space, Markets and Employment in Agricultural Development: Malawi. University of the Western Cape. Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies Policy Brief 36

Space, Markets and Employment in Agricultural Development: Malawi country report

Space, Markets and Employment in Agricultural Development: Malawi: Policy Brief

Published 30 June 2015
Contents