MALAWI: Improved food security could be short-lived

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

JOHANNESBURG, 13 Apr 2005 (IRIN) - Overall household food security in Malawi has improved with the onset of the harvest, but aid workers warn that many families are likely to face shortages as early as July.

According to the office of the UN Resident Representative in Malawi, results from the latest crop assessment, released by the Ministry of Agriculture on 1 April, pointed to "impending hunger".

Maize production forecasts are down 24.6 percent from last year's final crop estimate, while prolonged drought conditions reduced the sweet potato harvest by 12.8 percent and tobacco by 12.5 percent.

Last year's harvest was particularly poor in the country's south and central regions following a dry spell.

A survey conducted by the Malawi Vulnerability Analysis Committee (MVAC) from 29 March to 4 April showed that some areas were likely to experience food deficits of up to 15 percent during the April-June period, affecting an estimated 577,300 people.

"At this point, it is fair to say that more areas will require some form of humanitarian assistance, beginning in the third quarter [July-September], than was the case last year," the report said.

In response to food security concerns, the UN country team has beefed up contingency plans for medium-term food shortages, including adjustments by the World Food Programme to the food aid distribution plan from April-June.

The UN said the increased admission of severely malnourished children to Nutrition Rehabilitation Units (NRUs) during the last few months had stabilised in the Northern region. However, compared to February last year, there had been an average 5 percent increase in admissions to NRUs across the country.

[ENDS]