Agriculture (including tobacco) plays a major role in the economy of Malawi, a southern African country facing significant environmental and social challenges. In 2001, Philip Morris USA began working with other stakeholders to identify issues that threaten Malawi’s agricultural sustainability. Several years later, that work has evolved into programs benefiting hundreds of villages in Malawi.
Tobacco is Malawi's major agricultural crop, representing 53 percent of the country's export commodities according to the World Factbook. PM USA has purchased burley tobacco grown in Malawi for many years.
In addition to high levels of poverty and low life expectancy, Malawi faces problems that directly threaten food security and short-term agricultural sustainability of natural resources. Tobacco cultivation is closely connected to these problems. Malawians cut down an average of 14 million trees annually to support the country's tobacco industry, according to Washington State University.
The traditional growing and harvesting of trees for the wood needed to cure, fence and store tobacco leaves contribute to massive deforestation, which plays a role in soil erosion and reduced tobacco yields.
PM USA worked with representatives from other tobacco companies, leaf processors and the ECLT Foundation -- an international organization dedicated to ending inappropriate child labor in tobacco growing -- to identify issues that pose the highest threat to Malawi's agricultural sustainability.
As a result of working with key stakeholders about the issues facing Malawi and an assessment of our business needs, PM USA focuses on three key areas including:
- good agricultural practices/food security
- child and forced labor prevention
- environmental stewardship
By targeting these areas, we can help Malawians build an agricultural foundation upon which they can sustain a future, including one that involves selling tobacco to PM USA.
Since our efforts in Malawi began, we've focused on a variety of programs to help Malawi sustain its agricultural prosperity:
Agroforestry Partnership Program - Between 2001 and 2006, PM USA supported a project with Washington State University and Total LandCare Malawi called the Agroforestry Partnership Program (APP). The innovative program helped farm communities in Malawi address soil degradation and deforestation caused by increased wood demand for household use and tobacco curing.
Over the five-year period, the program in 318 villages benefited 7,950 households and some 40,000 Malawians. Key accomplishments include:
- raising 3.2 million seedlings in 868 tree nurseries
- planting 2.62 million trees
- improving the efficiency of wood stoves for 432 households in 70 villages
- building small-scale irrigation systems to address persistent food and income shortages by many farmers
- improving soil conservation and fertility as well as water conservation
- working to ensure safe water supply and ecological sanitation for the health and safety of villagers
Other positive outcomes of APP include:
- enhancing community capacity by strengthening local institutions to become a driving force to sustain these programs
- increasing the supply of construction materials and fuel wood
- improving food security, nutrition and incomes
- driving interest and support from other donors
- enabling new projects and initiatives
In 2006, the Washington State University Foundation honored PM USA for its commitment in working to promote long-term sustainability in Malawi and the southern African region.
SURELIVES - The work begun through the APP evolved into a new initiative called SURELIVES (Sustainable Rural Enterprises and Livelihoods), sponsored by PM USA's parent company Altria Group, and included new villages within the Dowa and Lilongwe districts. The goals, objectives, and outcomes of the SURELIVES project build upon the foundation established by the APP project.
MWIMBA Farm Institute - PM USA has sponsored other initiatives in Malawi including funding a 3-year grant at the MWIMBA Farm Institute from 2006-2008. This grant was used to expand agricultural training programs for Malawi farmers and extension agents.
ECLT - PM USA is a founding member of the ECLT Foundation. In 2008, the ECLT Foundation invested more than $1 million in Malawi programs designed to address:
- child labor issues
- environmental stewardship
- sanitation and safe water practices
