Have you ever wondered what Orant means? It’s not just a funny word - it has a deeper meaning that we’re telling you about this week in the blog. Read more about it here and learn where we got our name and why we are grateful for you, our readers, donors, and supporters, this week and always.
Why is Malawi Poor?
Malawi is rich in democracy, peace, and spirit. But economically, Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world. Why is Malawi poor? Hint: It’s complicated. To simplify, Orant has compiled a list of 5 main reasons.
1. Malawi is landlocked.
This means importing and exporting goods is hindered. Which means Malawi lacks access to global markets. In addition, each of Malawi’s surrounding countries indirectly affects it. When there are issues in one, Malawi experiences spillover effects.
2. 80% of the population depends on subsistence agriculture.
While farming for survival is a noble endeavor, it comes with challenges. Almost all of Malawi’s agriculture is rainfed. Depending on weather conditions, rainfed agriculture isn’t reliable. Not to mention that Malawi and other developing countries receive the brunt of climate change’s effects. Droughts and floods affect agricultural yield, which directly impacts food security. Additionally, Malawi’s economy is strongly dependent on tobacco, which accounts for 69.5% of Malawi’s total exports—a fact that is increasingly problematic for Malawian families given the declining global demand for tobacco products.
There are also limited non-farming economic opportunities. Because of this, people don’t specialize. With a lack of specialized jobs and economic opportunities, the country has limited economic growth overall.
The Malawi Vision 2063 (from the United Nations and National Planning Commission of Malawi) points out that Malawi has challenges with over-regulations. Political interference and control limit market competitiveness, land accessibility, and even environmental sustainability.
4. Without global investment, Malawi struggles to grow its markets.
And because the markets struggle to grow, there is minimal investment. It’s a vicious cycle. To make matters worse, this cycle causes a lack of US Dollars, the world reserve currency. As such, Malawi is more susceptible to inflation and price changes.
5. Disease and poverty go hand in hand.
Diseases are a vast problem for the citizens of Malawi. When a family member gets sick, other members often have to sell belongings, withdraw school payments and cut back on daily food consumption.
To make medical payments, the patient’s family often has to sacrifice their education, nutrition and personal belongings. Disease causes substantial impoverishment.
In conclusion…
It’s complicated.
But there’s hope.
As the Malawi Vision 2063 states, Malawi’s best years are ahead of it. Youth development and empowerment will help Malawi’s future economy flourish. Malawi is in a perfect position to one day achieve in-country self-sufficiency.
Share on:
The Orant Journal
Malawian culture has always been known as a treasure trove of wisdom, and proverbs being an integral part of our rich heritage. These timeless sayings have been passed on through generations, offering guidance, direction, and warnings that shape our values, beliefs, and daily lives. In our upcoming blog series, we will delve into the world of Malawian proverbs, exploring their meanings, contexts and significance. Read today's blog post which serves as an introduction to our journey.
Read today’s blog about the children’s book, “As Big as the Sky”, a Malawian story about a brother and sister whose love for each other is as big as the sky.
“Orant respectfully serves and collaborates with our community in a sustainable way.”
Ever wondered why we always mention village chiefs and their involvement in Orant’s work? If yes, then today’s blog article is for you! In this article, we talk to Village Head of Kasese Village in Dowa, who tells us about her duties and why her involvement with Orant is important. Read today's blog article to learn more.
Recently, we read The End of Plenty by Joel K. Bourne Jr. An honest and sometimes scathing review of the Green Revolution, this book covers how monoculture crops have led to worsening hunger across the world. As the planet warms, the need is ever more urgent for us to find a solution to humanity’s desperate need to feed 9 billion people.
As we have discussed in some of our past blogs, Malawi Vision 2063 has three key pillars that guide the focus of the Vision. These three pillars are meant to build on each other to create the inclusively wealthy and self-reliant nation that they envision. In this blog, we will look at the third pillar of MW2063: Urbanisation.
Whether you are planning an African trip or just curious about the things we love about Malawi, read today’s blog to see the best things to do in Malawi!
Holidays are here again and we are so excited! Most of our team is taking time off with their families and loved ones, so please enjoy this blog while we are away. Celebrate the holidays with us the Malawian way!
Introducing you to the culture of Malawi through a series of articles! The culture of Malawi is strong in spirituality and most people are active in religious groups. We’ll tell you about Malawi’s main religions and the people who practice them. Read on for more.