In many countries that have failed to reach the international hunger targets, natural and human-induced disasters or political instability have resulted in protracted crises with increased vulnerability and food insecurity of large parts of the population.
The key factors affecting food security include population growth, poverty, global climate change, political instability, food waste, natural disasters, food production, food distribution networks, gender inequality, and malnutrition.
Drought and conflict are the main factors that have exacerbated the problem of food production, distribution and access.
High rates of population growth and poverty have also played a part, within an already difficult environment of fragile ecosystems.
The biggest threats to food security include: Conflicts and corruption.
Conflicts impede the proper functioning of economies, including production and distribution of food.
Politics and trade barriers. Unequal food distribution. Food loss. Food waste. Climate change. Biodiversity loss.
Food insecurity can be tackled in a number of ways: Reducing unnecessary food waste. Increasing education and knowledge sharing about food insecurity. Diversifying protein sources. Amplifying activism and supporting vulnerable populations.
Several things lead to food security when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.
Food security has four interrelated elements: availability, access, utilisation and stability.
Hunger is a problem because of interconnected issues of poverty, inequity, conflict, climate change, gender discrimination, and weak government and health systems all play a role in keeping nutritious food out of reach for millions of families around the world. When children don’t have enough food, their brains and bodies suffer.
Key factors driving this situation are the various climatic shocks experienced throughout the district, mainly dry spells, cyclones and floods, leading to below average crop production; economic decline, including the effects of the war in Ukraine on fuel and commodity prices, the 25 percent devaluation of the Malawi Kwacha, high input prices, leading to high costs of production and the continued high food inflation leading to high food prices and low purchasing power.
The situation is expected to worsen during the period from October 2023 to March 2024. In this projected period, 4.4 million people, representing 22 percent of total Malawians in the country will be in IPC Phase 3 or above (Crisis or worse).
These people will require humanitarian assistance to sustain livelihoods and mitigate food consumption gaps.
Aside from high poverty levels and the inability to afford food, other factors such as sporadic rainfalls and poor implementation of agricultural policies exacerbate issues of food insecurity in Malawi.
Solutions
Increasing investments in market infrastructure and other incentive mechanisms to support African farmers to adopt climate smart policies, technologies, and practices, including afforestation and rehabilitation of degraded lands, wetlands, and protected areas to enhance carbon sequestration and reduce carbon losses.
Urgent coordinated action and policy solutions are imperative to address entrenched inequalities, transform food systems, invest in sustainable agricultural practices, and reduce and mitigate the impact of conflict and the pandemic on global nutrition and food security.
