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Most of the country is experiencing Minimal (IPC Phase 1) acute food insecurity outcomes, apart from Stressed (IPC Phase 2) areas in the south. Between October 2017 and January 2018, FEWS NET is projecting Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes in a few southern districts due to slow recovery of livelihoods due to consecutive seasons of poor production, reduced incomes because of poor production and marketing, as well as damage to crops by the Fall Armyworm (FAW).
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Overall, households have continued to rely on food from own production since the harvest. Some households are also supplementing their food stocks through purchases after earning income from labor exchange and self-employment. Maize is readily available in ADMARC and in most local markets. Households are also accessing other foods including vegetables, legumes, groundnuts, sweet potatoes, and cassava. However, households continue to face reduced incomes this year due to lower than normal prices for various agriculture commodities such as legumes.
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For August, the national average price for maize grain was stable for a third consecutive month, trending at about MKW 100 per kilogram. This is largely due to normal national production and continued consumption of own produced food by most households. The current average price is 15 percent lower than five-year average and 54 percent lower than prices during the corresponding month last year. Maize prices are likely to remain low between September and October compared to the previous year owing to the amount of carryover stocks by both private traders and ADMARC.
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Based on the Southern Africa Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF) and other international climate models, Malawi will likely receive normal to above normal rainfall in the December to February period. The normal to above normal rainfall will facilitate a normal agricultural production season which will in turn lead to normal labor income access to poorer households. According to the Malawi Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS) localized rainfall variations may still occur.
This Key Message Update provides a high-level analysis of current acute food insecurity conditions and any changes to FEWS NET's latest projection of acute food insecurity outcomes in the specified geography. Learn more here.