Fighting for survival in Malawi
The income per capita of rural Malawi is approximately £70 per annum. Maize (Chimanga) is the staple food for all Malawians in the southern region. AIDs is ever present.


Much subsistence agriculture has been dominated by growing maize as the staple food crop. Many different intercrops such pulses and legumes have been tried. Oranges and blue gums have in recent years been grown for income, but with only limited success.
The past five years have been very difficult for smallholders. The rains, essential to moisture hungry agriculture, have been unreliable. Lower than average rainfall together with large climate events, such as storms, have resulted in a short growing season for maize. For five years Malawians have suffered from retarded maize yields.


Lack of rainfall is a problem but not the only one.
The rural workforce is also under pressure from AIDS which greatly affects productivity.
The common story, repeated in many other countries of sub Saharan Africa, is one of rural folk taking on the responsibility of caring for their family's orphans both from towns and countryside areas.
Educated Malawians, with jobs, at one time sent money home to support their families in the village but are now returning with their children once the 'illness' sets in.
The effect if two fold.
There is a decrease in available labour with the loss of men and women from the household. Furthermore, if the sick are being cared for by surviving adults, then fewer household members are working the land.
Households in Malawi have less money to invest in their livelihood. The short term necessity of feeding and providing medical care for the extended family overtakes the ability of the immediate family to adequately feed and support itself.


Copyright © 2007 All rights reserved. Reg Charity No 1104555