Which crops are Malawi’s leading agricultural exports?

Malawi’s economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which generates the vast majority of the country's export earnings. The leading agricultural exports are:1

• Tobacco: By far the most significant export crop, tobacco accounts for a major portion of Malawi's foreign-exchange earnings.231
• Sugar: A major export commodity primarily produced within the estate sector.21
• Tea: Another key export, largely grown on plantations in the Shire Highlands.231
• Cotton: A significant contributor to the country's export revenue.21

While these crops drive the export market, the government has increasingly encouraged farmers to diversify their production to reduce the nation's heavy reliance on tobacco.3