Achieving food security is high on the agenda of the Malawi government. Notably, Malawi’s Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) recognizes that food security is a prerequisite for sustained economic growth and poverty reduction. However, a good understanding of the determinants of food insecurity is required to inform and guide the design and execution of effective and well-targeted policy interventions. A recent study by Lewin and Fisher (2010) addressed this issue by examining how socio-economic characteristics of households, local conditions, and current agricultural policies influence the likelihood that a farm household in rural Malawi is food insecure. This policy brief highlights key findings of the study.
Implications for agricultural policy
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)