Tropentag 2020, September 9 - 11, virtual conference, Germany "Food and nutrition security and its resilience to global crises"

Upscaling of Baobab Value Chain in Malawi – A Production and Processing Using Modern Technologies

Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Agribusiness Incubation Center, Malawi

Abstract

Agriculture has been recognised as the main contributing sector to the GDP amongst most of the African economies. To enhance Agricultural growth, an in-depth understanding of value chains in agriculture and food production is a yardstick for Agribusiness entrepreneurial activities and so for increase in income and improvement of rural livelihoods. This presentation focuses on value chain in the fruit sector with special emphasis on baobab fruit tree in Malawi.
Baobab is one of the fruit trees that grow naturally along the shores of Lake Malawi and Shire River. It is used for food, medicine and income. There is growing demand for baobab products both domestically and internationally but the country’s output does not meet the market demand. Low production of baobab is attributed to low levels of technology, poor infrastructure, lack of market information, limited processing knowledge, lack of capital and lack of government support. To address the demand gap, there is need for intervention to upscale production and processing through the adoption of modern technologies through establishment of innovative baobab value chain social enterprise called BaoFoods initiative in Malawi.
The overall objective of this study project idea is to upscale baobab value chain through production and processing using modern technologies. To realise this project idea in practice, the project will follow the following implementation steps; 1) idea validation 2) planning process 3) partnerships 4) location for the baobab value chain social enterprise (BaoFoods Initiative) 5) idea realisation/launch in practice.
The realisation of this study project idea, will give an opportunity to increase income, create employment among the youth and women along the lake shore areas, and hence improve the quality of life of the people.

Keywords: Baobab value chain, social enterprise, upscale

Contact Address: Hagience K. Phiri, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Agribusiness Incubation Center, P.O. Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi, e-mail: hagiencephirigmail.com