The Issue of Food Security in Malawi: The Study of How and Why one of the World's Poorest Countries Attained Food Security

Abstract: Food security is vital for the further development of a state. The aim of this thesis is to examine how and why Malawi managed to obtain national food security despite being one of the poorest countries in the world. Malawi’s economy is predominantly agricultural based and the majority of its population live in rural areas and are employed in agriculture. Therefore, politicians who wish to gain support are to target and improve agricultural policies. This is what the Government in Malawi has done and President Bingu wa Mutharika especially did when he was elected President in 2004 by implementing the fertiliser subsidy programme. Subsidising fertilisers for poor farmers consequently made the agricultural production increase so much so that the country now is food secure and is even exporting to neighbouring countries. Political tension exists in the country between the President and his opponent, and in order for the President to increase his support from the people and to maintain his position and power for the upcoming election he needs to satisfy the Malawian people.