The Land

Malawi’s rainy season is supposed to run from November to February, but for the second year running the rains have stopped after a month, raising fears there could be little or no harvest – a potential disaster, since most people in Malawi live off the land.

Maize is the main staple food, and since last year’s harvest was also very poor, supplies are short. Everyone says it’s not as bad as the last crisis in 2001-2002, but people are already feeling the pinch.

Harvest time is around March. Farmers are rarely able to store much, and usually sell their maize after harvesting, then buy it during the year.

According to Themba Madise, Red Cross project coordinator for food security in Malawi’s central region of Salima, half the households in the area don’t have enough food. “It’s usually around 13 percent,” he said.

Background information

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Food and hunger Politics of Aid

Facts & figures

Malawi

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