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 hectare, no contract)
| Crop | Margin / ha | Start-up / ha | Months to cash | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bananas | MK 6.40m | MK 2.12m | 12 | Recommended |
| Vegetables (tomato/onion) | MK 4.39m | MK 3.00m | 3 | Workable |
| Macadamia | MK 3.26m | MK 2.50m | 48 | Workable |
| Cassava | MK 2.72m | MK 800k | 10 | Recommended |
| Irish potatoes | MK 2.49m | MK 3.10m | 4 | Workable |
Market prices in Likoma
Farmgate and contract prices, with the revenue a hectare returns here after the district yield factor and crop fit are applied.
| Crop | Farmgate | Contract | Yield / ha | Revenue / ha | Price swing | Fit here |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bananas | MK 550/kg | MK 650/kg | 19.36 t | MK 10.65m | ±30% | Recommended |
| Vegetables (tomato/onion) | MK 700/kg | MK 900/kg | 12.96 t | MK 9.07m | ±60% | Workable |
| Irish potatoes | MK 650/kg | MK 780/kg | 10.08 t | MK 6.55m | ±42% | Workable |
| Macadamia | MK 4200/kg | MK 5000/kg | 1.44 t | MK 6.05m | ±35% | Workable |
| Sugarcane | MK 95/kg | MK 120/kg | 61.20 t | MK 5.81m | ±15% | Workable |
| Cassava | MK 320/kg | MK 400/kg | 14.08 t | MK 4.51m | ±25% | Recommended |
| Tea | MK 2600/kg | MK 2900/kg | 1.73 t | MK 4.49m | ±20% | Workable |
| Coffee | MK 5200/kg | MK 6200/kg | 0.86 t | MK 4.49m | ±40% | Workable |
| Sweet potatoes | MK 420/kg | MK 520/kg | 7.92 t | MK 3.33m | ±35% | Workable |
| Poultry (broilers, per 500 birds) | MK 4200/kg | MK 4600/kg | 0.65 t | MK 2.72m | ±25% | Workable |
| Tobacco | MK 3200/kg | MK 3900/kg | 0.73 t | MK 2.33m | ±50% | Not advised |
| Rice | MK 1400/kg | MK 1650/kg | 1.58 t | MK 2.22m | ±28% | Workable |
| Beans | MK 2100/kg | MK 2450/kg | 0.79 t | MK 1.66m | ±33% | Workable |
| Groundnuts | MK 1800/kg | MK 2300/kg | 0.86 t | MK 1.56m | ±35% | Workable |
| Soya beans | MK 1250/kg | MK 1500/kg | 1.15 t | MK 1.44m | ±30% | Workable |
| Maize | MK 750/kg | MK 900/kg | 1.30 t | MK 975k | ±45% | Not advised |
| Cotton | MK 1050/kg | MK 1250/kg | 0.79 t | MK 832k | ±40% | Workable |
| Pigeon peas | MK 1150/kg | MK 1400/kg | 0.65 t | MK 745k | ±55% | Workable |
| Sorghum | MK 700/kg | MK 850/kg | 0.94 t | MK 655k | ±30% | Workable |
Hazards to plan around
- Very limited arable land
- Freight dependency
- Water scarcity