Soil and nutrients loss are among the major impediments to a stable and sustained
agricultural development in Malawi. They have historically affected the country but the
high population growth, rapid deforestation, overgrazing and ploughing, combined with
the impacts of climate change, such as temperature increases and changing precipitation
patterns, are increasing the impact of these events that harm agricultural growth. This report
analyses the economic impact of both soil and nutrient loss in Malawi with new countryrepresentative
data on soil and nutrients loss indicators collected through field surveys,
merged with detailed climatic data and socio-economic information. It translates soil
loss/nutrient loss into yield loss and estimates the economic impact of loss on agricultural
production as a result of soil degradation, followed by the identification of best practices to
mitigate the soil and nutrient loss events.