Hunger is set to persist in Malawi because the country is yet to fully address the diversity and scale of future threats to their food systems alone, a new study has revealed.
The report, titled ‘Building resilience and enhancing nutrition in Africa’s food systems’, highlights that persistent hunger is a threat to peace and could escalate insecurity in Malawi, especially 2025 being an election year.
The study—published by Global Panel and commissioned by Irish Aid—said Malawi’s population was projected to grow from 20.3 million in 2024 to an estimated 33.6 million in 2050 and suggests this boom will pile more pressure on food needs.
Reads the report in part: “This suggests that increasing population pressure will have significant implications on the country’s food and nutrition security situation now and in the future.”
Being an election year, the report expressed fear that implementation of long-term strategies could be unpopular in the face of political patronage; hence, constraining the policy space for effecting the changes needed.
“A balance between emergency response, social protection and development finance is needed. Labour productivity off season could be increased by engaging communities in food and cash assistance for conservation activities such as building canals and dams,” reads the report.
In a commentary on the report, outgoing National Planning Commission director general Thomas Chataghalala Munthali, who led the Malawi team, said progress is affected by economic dislocations.
He stressed the need for impactful and effective cross-sectoral governance for the food systems transformation initiative and strengthening the private sector footprint in the country’s food systems transformation.
Said Munthali: “It [government] will also promote the sustainable and balanced management of water resources in the context of continuing climate change challenges, while leveraging the policy and programmatic space to enhance delivery of the national Food Systems Transformation agenda.”
Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale said government remains committed to building a resilient food system through integrated risk management, climate-smart agriculture, and community empowerment.
