Malawi

Saukila Black is among farmers in Malawi hit by a drought who are now receiving food assistance delivered by WFP from areas of the country where harvests were better. Copyright: WFP/Gregory Barrow

Patchy Rains In Malawi Bring Harvests To Some, Hunger To Many

Drought in parts of Malawi spelled disaster for farmers like Saukila who live from harvest to harvest, surviving on what they can grow. Fortunately other areas of the country were spared, leaving a surplus that WFP and its partners are using to assist communities hit by the drought.

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Overview

Malawi is a small landlocked country in sub-Saharan Africa, bordering Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique.  It covers an area of 118,500 sq. km and has an estimated population of 14 million. The country is defined as low-income and ranks 171 out of 187 countries in the 2011 UNDP Human Development Index. Over 40 percent of the populations live on less than US$1 per day (2010 Government of Malawi MDG Report).  Malawi’s landholdings are generally small, particularly in the densely populated south, leading to the over-use of marginally productive agricultural land, causing soil erosion and nutrient depletion. More than 40 percent of rural households cultivate less than half a hectare, mainly devoted to maize production.

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Country at a glance 2013
Planned Beneficiaries3,191,932
Beneficiary needs (mt)88,389
Beneficiary needs ($US)56,115,082
Operations