Food Security News

Malawi has suffered from the failure of last year’s harvest. It is estimated the country produced around 60% of its annual consumption of maize in 2005. This has left approx 4.5m people short of food. This shortage reaches its peak in Feb-April as farmers wait for the 2006 harvest to ripen.

It should be noted this is on the back of crop failure in 2002 and a poor harvest in 2003 and 2004.

This continued lack of food impacts upon health, the economy and the ability of the nation to raise its standard of living.

The WFP has provided a response package which has attempted to bridge the gap in food production and consumption. WFP targets the areas of highest population and ease of access. In the east of the country WFP has not provided for all those in need. Africa Link, in conjunction with other donors, has provided support to the Baptist Union of South Africa as its missionaries seek to provide support for around 10,000 people who would otherwise not receive any support.

» see more in the Africa Link update