It remains a lingering shadow, one that refuses to leave; a problem so ingrained in our nation’s makeup that its expulsion only seems tougher year after year. With the changing seasons and weather patterns, we continue to brace ourselves for what has become a cruel tradition – hunger.
It has become that uninvited guest that refuses to leave, haunting our communities, sparing neither the young nor the old.
They say every storm runs out of rain but will this storm ever truly pass? Will Malawi ever see a future where hunger is not a yearly curse but a distant memory? This is the question that echoes in the hearts of many Malawians, including my own.
Malawi is not without resources. Our fertile soils, abundant water bodies, and favourable climate are the very ingredients that have fed nations.
We have seen glimpses of what could be a Malawi where food security is a reality, not just a dream. The mid-2000s were a period when we experienced food security. This success was largely due to the introduction of the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP) in 2005, which provided smallholder farmers with access to subsidised fertilisers and improved seeds.
The approach used by the then President, the late Bingu wa Mutharika, often referred to as “agriculture-led development,” highlighted boosting domestic food production through this subsidy programme. The initiative led to record maize harvests turning Malawi from a food-aid-dependent country into a maize exporter and donor to several countries, including Zimbabwe and Zambia.
This period of food security was a direct result of these strategic agricultural interventions. Yet, despite these moments of hope, we have slipped back into the grip of hunger. What went wrong? Why has this problem become so stubbornly entrenched?
Malawi does not lack in knowledge or expertise. Our universities churn out agricultural graduates, many of whom have gone on to lend their skills to other nations. Malawian agricultural experts have been invited as consultants in countries like Zambia and Ethiopia, helping them overcome food crises and achieve hunger-free status. Yet, here at home, their wisdom often goes untapped; their potential unrealised.
The impact of hunger on our nation’s development is devastating. It stunts growth, both literally and figuratively, keeping our children from reaching their full potential and our economy from thriving.
The 2024 Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee Report posits that approximately 6.5 million people are affected by hunger. Projections indicate that this number could increase to about 8 million by the next rainy season.
How can we build a prosperous nation when so many of our people go to bed on an empty stomach? Hunger drains the energy of our workforce, saps the creativity of our youth, and holds back our progress as a nation.
We have tried solutions, like the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP) and the current Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) but they have not delivered the hoped-for results. Why? These programmes, while well-intentioned, have often been plagued by inefficiencies, corruption, and poor implementation. Instead of empowering farmers, they have sometimes left them more dependent and vulnerable.
The FISP was effective only during Bingu wa Mutharika’s era because he implemented sound policies that addressed the needs of farmers. He brought the much-needed improvement to the agricultural system. This approach is what is needed now.
To break free from the cycle of hunger, we must rethink our approach. We need to harness our resources, our knowledge, and our expertise in a coordinated and sustainable manner. We must empower our farmers with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to succeed, not just through subsidies, but through access to markets, better infrastructure, and education that will bring mindset change.
We must tap into the potential of our agricultural graduates, using their knowledge and skills to drive innovation and efficiency in our farming practices. Unfortunately, many agricultural graduates in Malawi struggle to start initiatives after graduation due to limited support from agricultural bodies. Many come from poor families and rely on scholarships for their education. This raises a critical question: Can someone from a disadvantaged background succeed in starting an initiative without adequate support?
A report by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) indicates that other African countries, such as Kenya and Ghana, have demonstrated that supporting agricultural graduates can lead to food security. In Malawi, graduates are often considered inexperienced and unable to repay loans, which leads to high collateral requirements and limited opportunities. This has driven many to seek employment instead of starting their ventures, worsening the country’s unemployment problem.
The question remains: will we continue to pass this burden of hunger from one generation to the next, or will we finally take the bold steps necessary to end it? The choice is ours, and the time to act is now.
