It was announced on Monday that the European Union (EU) has given the government of Malawi $12 million to secure its food supply. The funds were given in support of Malawi’s Farm Input Subsidy Programme, with specific regards to the program’s seed components. In a statement, the EU said:
“The EU’s assistance enables. The raising and planting of 10.5 million tree seedlings, as well as the management of 2,250 hectares of forest area for the benefit of over 34, 500 community members.
“In regard to irrigation, the disbursement enables the EU funded Income-Generating Public Works Programme (IGWP) to distribute 1,200 treadle pumps, develop 60 river diversion schemes and put 200 hectors of new land under sustainable irrigation…”
The European Union’s support for the program is aligned with the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy and the Government’s Agriculture Sector-Wide Approach. Both the Growth and Development Strategy and the Agriculture Sector-Wide Approach name food security as high priorities.
The funds come as food inflation in the country is on the rise. This month, food inflation stands at 6.8%, a .1% increase from February.
Although not directly cited in this global food security blog post from June 2009, the National Geographic special report linked on the post discusses Malawi’s recent agricultural successes – including the events known as “The Malawi Miracle”. The term refers to the 2007 corn season, which was so plentiful that the country went from having a 44% production deficit to having an 18% surplus. The returns allowed for two years worth of bumper crops. 2008 saw a 53 percent surplus and enough returns that Malawi exported maize to Zimbabwe.
This “Miracle” came as a result of a $58 million investment by the government into hybrid seeds and fertilizers, which was then augmented by the World Bank. The World Bank later issued a report criticizing international institutions and governments for neglecting food security in Africa.
The African food security issue took center stage at a conference hosted by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The conference focused on how improvements in African infrastructure can facilitate an improvement in food security on the continent. The conference included a presentation of President Obama’s policy on food security by the USDA.
Posted by Sara Chupein.
