Malawi's economy is one of the least developed in the world and its dependence on voluntourism doesn't always help. In line with Scotland Malawi's principles of dignified partnership, we are doing our best to tread the fine line between supporting the desperately vulnerable, importing only those materials that cannot be sourced in Malawi and helping to create long-term opportunity.
Fly-by Lilongwe's industrial sector
Paul takes us for a spin through Kanengo to show us the more industrial side to Malawi.
Tailored clothing
While second-hand clothing donations are always appreciated in the villages, they inhibit the development of a local clothing industry. The first thing we do when we arrive in Malawi is get measured up for new clothes, using cotton selected from Lilongwe market. They are ready for collection as we board our flights.
Tobacco and tea plantations
Malawi's principle crop is tobacco which, together with tea, coffee and sugar cane, account for 90% of the total exports value of Malawi. However, because of plummeting prices and health implications of tobacco, the government is investigating alternative crops for export. Child labour is also an issue on plantations of this size.
Tobacco plantation
Tea plantation
Grain storage
In 1979, the government built concrete silos in Lilongwe, to ensure the country has adequate supplies of maize grain, Malawi's staple food, at all times. These silos have a holding capacity of 180,000 metric tonnes, making them the largest silos concentration in Malawi.
Market trading
There are some fantastic markets in every town we go. We try to avoid anything made from wood, especially cedar wood, but there is plenty to buy from batique paintings and beaded decorations to baskets and cloth.
Brick-making
Bricks are in high demand for housing Malawi's growing population, so red clay brick production is big business. Unfortunately, the traditional system is a major contributor to deforestation as the bricks need to be baked in wood-fired kilns. Lilongwe is trialling a new recipe for cool bricks from Terrastone.
Traditional production
Terrastone trial
Drinks industry
SOBO produce a variety of soft drinks including the very popular Cocopina. Carlsberg is also brewed locally - Greens as they are known. And Malawi produces its own spirits such as the infamous Malawi Gin, distilled from sugar cane and enriched with juniper oil and other botanicals, and now available in the UK.
Furniture makers
The cane palm, which grows wild across Malawi, is excellent for making rattan furniture. Wicker chairs and tables can be bought on the roadside - and are now being exported by companies like Malawi Cane (though haven't put this to the test!).
Pottery
Dedza pottery, which we visit on our way down to Blantyre, can be found in most catering establishments in Malawi and available to purchase at Lilongwe airport.
Malawi industry
Malawi's primary industry is agriculture, with about 80% of its population living in rural areas. Its principle crop is tobacco which, together with tea, coffee and sugar cane, account for 90% of the total exports value of Malawi. Historically, farmers grew food for export to neighbouring countries who might be experiencing drought but now crops like maize, cassava, groundnuts, rice, beans, potatoes, sorghum and cotton are grown for subsistence or sold within Malawi. There is some livestock rearing, such as goats and cattle, but most people depend on fish for their protein [more about that when we get to Lake Malawi].
In addition to tourism, other industries that Malawi is developing include food processing such as Salima's mango processing unit and Universal in Blantyre which makes sweets and baby food amongst other things, consumer goods, furniture production, cigarette production and construction. Mulanje, Mzuzu and Thyolo all have companies involved in tea and coffee processing and there are four pharmaceutical businesses.
Despite all these initiatives, Malawi's economy is one of the least developed in the world. It suffers in part because it is fully landlocked, surrounded by neighbours with their own political and economic challenges. But like these countries, Malawi too suffers from environmental challenges, poor health and illiteracy with the result that it is heavily reliant on economic aid from the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and other donors.
This is why it is so important that the support we provide through the Watson's Malawi Partnership does not add to the country's problems by undermining its economic strategy. While clothing donations fulfil a desperate short-term requirement, particularly women and childre, they also hinder longer-term efforts by people like Netty to create a clothing industry within Malawi so these are areas we need to think about carefully.