Monday, January 18, 2021
  • About Us
  • ImagiNATION
  • Adverts
  • Rate Card
  • Contact Us
The Nation Online
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Business Business News

Malawi loses K32bn of GDP annually

by Johnny Kasalika
13/04/2012
in Business News
2 min read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on LinkedinLinkedinShare via Email

charcoal | The Nation OnlineThe United Nations and Population Fund (UNFPA) says Malawi is losing over $191 million (about K32 billion) of its gross domestic product (GDP) annually to unsustainable use of natural resources.

RelatedHeadlines

Banks reaping from high lending rates

Traders cheating farmers under govt watch—study

MSE value drops

UNFPA programme manager responsible for population and development Dr Thomas Chataghalala Munthali said this at a two-day climate change workshop for journalists in Salima.

The workshop, themed ‘Population Dynamics and Climate Change in Malawi’, was organised by UNFPA.

Munthali quoted an economic study commissioned by the then Ministry of Economic Planning and Development.

He said the K32 billion loss, which is about 5.3 percent of country’s GDP, results from unsustainable fishing, loss of agricultural productivity due to soil degradation, reduced economic activity due to indoor air pollution and deforestation of catchment areas, especially around main urban areas where trees are wantonly cut down for charcoal and firewood.

He said UNFPA is working with the media, government and other stakeholders to raise awareness on the impact of population growth which exerts pressure on natural resources.

“In Malawi, population growth has been and remains a binding constraint on socio-economic development.

“Government recognises efforts to slowing population growth are mutually reinforcing with those aimed at improving protection, reducing poverty and achieving economic progress.

“Resultantly, government is in the process of reviewing the National Population Policy and has reflected population issues highly in its development blue print,” he said.

He expressed the need to create an environment and provide resources that can empower families to responsibly choose the number and spacing of children.

“Choosing the number of children is a human right and it should neither be denied nor forced on people.

“But a small family has more socioeconomic advantages at both household and national levels. Families should be provided with information and means to do so. Otherwise, no significant strides can be registered in natural resource and economic sustainability,” said Munthali.

According to Population Connection, population growth since 1950 is behind the clearing of 80 percent of rainforests, the loss of tens of thousands of plant and wildlife species, an increase in greenhouse gas emissions of some 400 percent and the development or commercialisation of as much as half of the earth’s surface land.

Robert Engelma from Population Action International agrees with Munthali that: “Trends such as the loss of half of the planet’s forests, the depletion of most of its major fisheries and the alteration of its atmosphere and climate are closely related to the fact that human population expanded from mere millions in prehistoric times to over six billion today.”

Previous Post

Govt warns against hoarding sugar

Next Post

Ian Bonongwe is MSB CEO

Related Posts

graph 4 | The Nation Online
Business News

Banks reaping from high lending rates

January 16, 2021
Maize prices are on the rise on the market
Business News

Traders cheating farmers under govt watch—study

January 15, 2021
Trading in progress at Malawi
Stock Exchange
Business News

MSE value drops

January 15, 2021
Next Post

Ian Bonongwe is MSB CEO

Trending Stories

  • Spending more: Chakwera

    Wasteful Chakwera

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Nocma in race against time

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Rot at Neef over loans

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Neef bosses, board fight in court

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Tonse owes ‘ife tonse’ an apology

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Opinions and Columns

My Thought

Don’t relax, Covid-19 still here

January 17, 2021
Political Uncensored

Maddening chaotic virus

January 17, 2021
Emily Mkamanga

Chakwera has to instill unity

January 17, 2021
People’s Tribunal

Perilous times and the need for accountability

January 17, 2021
  • Values
  • Our Philosophy
  • Editorial policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism disclaimer
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

© 2021 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation

© 2020 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

WhatsApp us

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.