Agricultural strategies to improve nutrition, food security and gender equality for the rural poor in Malawi

Improving food security is a key way that governments can ensure the long-term economic growth and health of a nation. Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world, has a rural majority that struggles with food insecurity. The Malawi Government has announced the Greenbelt Initiative (GBI) with the goal of increasing national and household food security through large and small-scale irrigation schemes. Given the positive spin-offs for rural economies, health and development, a policy shift toward increased domestic food production is a laudable strategy for achieving this goal. Although the GBI stresses smallholder food security, a primary focus on increased national food supplies can lead to persistent food insecurity, poverty and malnutrition. Thus, while improved access to agricultural inputs, technology, extension, and credit as outlined in the GBI are necessary, these conditions in themselves are not sufficient to guarantee improved smallholder farmer household food sufficiency. In fact, evidence from other parts of sub-Saharan Africa has shown that while irrigation programs have produced increases in aggregate crop production, these gains have often failed to improve food security or nutrition outcomes for the rural poor and have exacerbated social inequalities, especially where such programs have not been carefully designed and planned.1-5 The inability to achieve food self-sufficiency and increased inequalities resulting from irrigation projects are important considerations for Malawi, given smallholder farming accounts for more than 80% of food production for subsistence and more than 50% of its population is poor.6-8 These considerations are closely linked to social, nutritional and health outcomes that should be evaluated alongside potential environmental concerns prior to GBI implementation.11-20 This policy brief draws on evidence from prior irrigation projects to 1) highlight potential social and nutritional consequences of irrigation schemes, and to 2) recommend strategies for incorporating social and nutritional concerns into the planning and implementation of the GBI in order to help achieve both national and household food security