By Benadetta Chanda Mia:
Malawi’s tea production nearly doubled to 1,598,787 kilogrammes (kg) in August 2024, from 882,941 kg produced in August last year, latest figures show.
The represents 81 percent increase in output year-on-year.
Month-on-month, the output also increased by 19 percent from 1,341,508 kg.
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According to the August Business and Economic Review by the Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI), this year’s increase starkly contrasts with the production trend seen in 2023.
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Last year, tea production dropped by approximately 30 percent from 1,260,296 kg in July 2023 to 882,941 kg.
“The data suggest that production tends to be lower in July and August, with August often marking one of the lowest production months,” the MCCCI report reads.
However, the growth observed in August 2024 indicates a shift in this pattern, possibly due to favourable climatic conditions or improved agricultural practices.
Tea Association of Malawi Chief Executive Officer Tonda Chinagwa attributed the production increase to improved rainfall pattern between June and August 2024.
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He compared the pattern to the same time last year, when tea-growing districts were negatively affected by El Nino-induced dry spells.
“If the weather continues to be favourable from September to December, production for 2024 will be slightly higher than in 2023,” Chinagwa said.
Annual tea production in Malawi averages 50 million kg according to figures from the association.
However, 2023 saw production fall below this average, with total output at 45 million kg.
If favourable weather conditions persist, 2024 could see a recovery and possibly surpass the previous year’s production figures.
Malawi is the second-largest tea producer in Africa and is home to the oldest tea plantations on the continent.
