MwAPATA Institute

The MwAPATA Institute is an independent agricultural policy think tank in Malawi. The Institute is engaging the Government of Malawi, private sector, and civil society stakeholders in a program of applied policy analysis, policy outreach, capacity building, and policy coordination. MwAPATA was established with a grant from the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World via Michigan State University and continues with the support of the Foundation, the United States Agency for International Development and other partners.

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Recent Events

Policy Prioritisation Through Value Chain Deep-Dive Research Dissemination Meeting
Tuesday, 28th May 2024, BICC, Lilongwe, Malawi
Time: 08: 00 am - 3: 00 pm CAT

Event Pictures:

The MwAPATA Institute, the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP), and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) organized a dissemination meeting for the results of the Policy Prioritisation through Value Chain (PPVC) deep dive analysis for banana, poultry, and soya value chains. The event, which took place on 28 th May 2024 at Bingu International Conference Centre, saw the representation of different key stakeholders such as government, private sectors and CSOs, farmers and the media.
To attain inclusive agricultural transformation in Malawi, the researchers recommended policy and investment support required to upgrade each value chain. The recommended reforms for the poultry value chain include (i) removing value-added tax (VAT) on soybean oilcake and imported veterinary products, (ii) maize market reforms, and (iii) consistent surplus maize production at export-parity-based prices. Soybean value chain recommendations are (i) local feed market development and soy-pieces export promotion, (ii) marketing and trade regulations, and (iii) Soybean and oil cake export promotion. Lastly, Banana value chain policy recommendations include (i) seed system reform, (ii) irrigation investment and (iii) a mat-to-orchard program.

Event proceedings: Here

PPVC Deep-Dive, Malawi – Soybeans Presentation

PPVC Deep-Dive, Malawi – Banana Presentation

PPVC Deep-Dive, Malawi – Poultry Presentation

11th Ndizotheka Eminent Speaker Series
Thursday, 29th Febuary 2024, Sunbird Capital Hotel, Lilongwe, Malawi
Time: 2: 00 pm - 5: 00 pm CAT
Theme: Building 21st Century Agricultural Research and Extension Capacity in Africa
Eminent Speaker:
Professor Thom Jayne

Thom Jayne is University Foundation Professor emeritus of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics at Michigan State University. He is a Fellow of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association and a Distinguished Fellow of the African Association of Agricultural Economists. His research has focused on food marketing and price policies, changes in land use patterns, sustainable intensification, employment, and rural transformation. He has mentored dozens of young African professionals and played a major role in building MSU’s partnerships with African agricultural policy research institutes. He is a board member of the

Regional Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes in Eastern and Southern Africa and the MwAPATA Institute in Malawi. From 2019-22, Jayne was seconded to the African Development Bank, serving as Special Advisor to the President. Jayne has received several research excellence awards, including the 2009 Outstanding Article Award in Agricultural Economics and the 2017 AAEA Bruce Gardner Memorial Prize for Applied Policy Analysis.

Event proceedings: Here

Prof. Thom Jayne's Presentation