Malawi thrives on agriculture as its economic power house

Malawi thrives on agriculture as its economic power house. Over the years, tobacco (the greatest forex earner) and maize (the staple food) have played Centre-stage in this agro-based economy. It is however sad to note that the tobacco industry, despite being lucrative, has posed a number of challenges and caused massive deforestation due to wanton cutting down of trees. This, in turn, defeats all efforts in the drive to mitigate climate change environmental evils.

Apart from that, the anti-smocking lobby in European Capitals is gathering momentum to the fear that sooner or later the industry of tobacco will be a closed chapter. It is for this reason that Mbawemi Women Association, in a paradigm shift, decided to embrace an alternative environmental friendly, economic substitute, in the name of Bee-keeping.

With over 200 beehives, most of them given to women for care, Mbawemi has been able to change the women ’s lives who, by selling the honey back to Mbawemi at a pre-arranged price, are able to meet the basic needs in the drive to achieve women empowerment.

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