The Determinants of Food Insecurity in Rural Malawi

Abstract

Achieving food security is high on the agenda of the Malawi government. Notably, Malawi’s Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) recognizes that food security is a prerequisite for sustained economic growth and poverty reduction. However, a good understanding of the determinants of food insecurity is required to inform and guide the design and execution of effective and well-targeted policy interventions. A recent study by Lewin and Fisher (2010) addressed this issue by examining how socio-economic characteristics of households, local conditions, and current agricultural policies influence the likelihood that a farm household in rural Malawi is food insecure. This policy brief highlights key findings of the study.