Northern Region
Likoma district intelligence
Land-scarce island economy — horticulture for lodges beats staple bulk.
District intelligence
Likoma · Northern Region
Land-scarce island economy — horticulture for lodges beats staple bulk.
Seasonal rainfall
800 mm
Altitude
500 m
Reliable season
110 days
Planting window
Dec
Dominant soils
Sandy, Shallow rocky
Irrigation potential
Low
Lean-season stress
35% of households
Yield vs national avg
80%
Best-fit crops
Cassava, Vegetables, Bananas
Approach with caution
Maize at scale, Tobacco
Main hazards
Very limited arable land, Freight dependency, Water scarcity
Where produce sells
Island traders · Lodges & tourism · Nkhata Bay
Highest-margin options here (per acre, no contract)
| Crop | Margin / acre | Start-up / acre | Months to cash | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bananas | MK 2.59m | MK 858k | 12 | Recommended |
| Vegetables (tomato/onion) | MK 1.78m | MK 1.21m | 3 | Workable |
| Macadamia | MK 1.32m | MK 1.01m | 48 | Workable |
| Cassava | MK 1.10m | MK 324k | 10 | Recommended |
| Irish potatoes | MK 1.01m | MK 1.25m | 4 | Workable |
Market prices in Likoma
Farmgate and contract prices, with the revenue an acre returns here after the district yield factor and crop fit are applied.
| Crop | Farmgate | Contract | Yield / acre | Revenue / acre | Price swing | Fit here |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bananas | MK 550/kg | MK 650/kg | 7.83 t | MK 4.31m | ±30% | Recommended |
| Vegetables (tomato/onion) | MK 700/kg | MK 900/kg | 5.24 t | MK 3.67m | ±60% | Workable |
| Irish potatoes | MK 650/kg | MK 780/kg | 4.08 t | MK 2.65m | ±42% | Workable |
| Macadamia | MK 4200/kg | MK 5000/kg | 0.58 t | MK 2.45m | ±35% | Workable |
| Sugarcane | MK 95/kg | MK 120/kg | 24.77 t | MK 2.35m | ±15% | Workable |
| Cassava | MK 320/kg | MK 400/kg | 5.70 t | MK 1.82m | ±25% | Recommended |
| Tea | MK 2600/kg | MK 2900/kg | 0.70 t | MK 1.82m | ±20% | Workable |
| Coffee | MK 5200/kg | MK 6200/kg | 0.35 t | MK 1.82m | ±40% | Workable |
| Sweet potatoes | MK 420/kg | MK 520/kg | 3.21 t | MK 1.35m | ±35% | Workable |
| Poultry (broilers, per 500 birds) | MK 4200/kg | MK 4600/kg | 0.26 t | MK 1.10m | ±25% | Workable |
| Tobacco | MK 3200/kg | MK 3900/kg | 0.29 t | MK 943k | ±50% | Not advised |
| Rice | MK 1400/kg | MK 1650/kg | 0.64 t | MK 897k | ±28% | Workable |
| Beans | MK 2100/kg | MK 2450/kg | 0.32 t | MK 673k | ±33% | Workable |
| Groundnuts | MK 1800/kg | MK 2300/kg | 0.35 t | MK 629k | ±35% | Workable |
| Soya beans | MK 1250/kg | MK 1500/kg | 0.47 t | MK 583k | ±30% | Workable |
| Maize | MK 750/kg | MK 900/kg | 0.53 t | MK 395k | ±45% | Not advised |
| Cotton | MK 1050/kg | MK 1250/kg | 0.32 t | MK 337k | ±40% | Workable |
| Pigeon peas | MK 1150/kg | MK 1400/kg | 0.26 t | MK 302k | ±55% | Workable |
| Sorghum | MK 700/kg | MK 850/kg | 0.38 t | MK 265k | ±30% | Workable |
Hazards to plan around
- Very limited arable land
- Freight dependency
- Water scarcity