@article{Shah:329214, recid = {329214}, author = {Shah, Mrunal and Ricker-Gilbert, Jacob and Khonje, Makaiko}, title = {Assessing Alternatives to Tobacco Farming for Smallholders in Malawi}, address = {2021-05-31}, number = {2465-2022-1931}, series = {MwAPATA Institute Policy Brief No.10}, pages = {4}, month = {May}, year = {2021}, abstract = {• Malawi is arguably the worldʼs most tobacco dependent economy, yet its future as a major tobacco producer is uncertain due to the perception of declining tobacco prices over time, along with health risks, child labor laws, and anti-smoking campaigns. • Using nationally representative data, along with time series data on tobacco prices, we assessed the profitability of Malawian tobacco and its potential alternative crops. • We found that the percentage of smallholder farmers growing tobacco declined over the past 10 years from 16% in 2009-2010 to 5% in 2018-2019. • Smallholder farmers who left tobacco cultivation allocated their tobacco land to maize and to smaller extent grain legume crops. • Tobacco is more profitable than alternative crops for smallholder farmers who remained in tobacco production. • Improving value chains for other high value crops is more cost-effective than focusing on moving the remaining 5% of smallholder farmers out of tobacco cultivation.}, url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/329214}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.329214}, }