A statement by the Michigan State University (MSU) has revealed that researchers from the university have been granted $7.8 million (K5.8 billion) to build an Malawi’s independent policy research institute, aimed at improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and transforming the country’s agricultural sector.

The grant, from the Agricultural Transformation Initiative, will bring up the policy research institute which will address pressing issues like the declining demand for tobacco, to which a tobacco-dependent country like Malawi will need support for crop diversification.

According to the statement, MSU researchers will work closely with public, private and civil society stakeholders in Malawi to build a platform for transparent and evidence-based public discussion about the ways forward. The foundation for this discussion will be the creation of an autonomous self-sustaining agricultural policy research institute in Malawi.

The statement sternly suggests that Malawi is in dire need of such an initiative; “Malawi is arguably the world’s most tobacco-dependent country, but many other southern African countries will also need an effective transition strategy. This grant is intended to develop and implement such a strategy.” says the statement.