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Malawi

Presence country
Malawi
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Key Message Update
March 2024
Consumption of green harvest contributes to improving food security outcomes
  • Food access has improved due to the availability of green harvests, especially in the southern region, and continued humanitarian assistance, resulting in outcomes (IPC Phase 3) and Stressed! (IPC Phase 2!). Humanitarian food assistance will be ending in mid-April 2024. With the 2023/24 harvest expected in April and May 2024, food security outcomes are expected to seasonally improve to Minimal (IPC Phase 1) between April and May 2024. However, some households will remain in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) as they have already consumed their green maize in the field. Meanwhile, central and northern Malawi districts are experiencing localized Stressed (IPC Phase 2) and Minimal (IPC Phase 1) outcomes that are expected to continue until the harvest in August 2024. 
  • The maize grain prices in all the markets are following a seasonal trend registering a 10 percent decrease in January compared to December 2023. In the month of February 2024, maize grain prices averaged 826 MWK per kilogram, with a maximum price of 962 MWK per kilogram at Lunzu market and 693 MWK per kilogram at Karonga market. This represents a 40 percent increase on average over the previous year and a 180 percent increase compared to the five-year average. Reports indicate that some Agriculture Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) markets in the country have maize stocks that are still selling at 600 MWK per kilogram. Currently, the National Food Reserve Agency has less than 20,000 MT in stock, which is 10 percent of the annual target and expected to be used for humanitarian assistance in the month of April 2024. 
  • The inflation rate for the month of February was 35 percent, which is similar to the January inflation rate, as reported by National Statistics Office. In addition, the Reserve Bank of Malawi has reported that foreign exchange reserves are sufficient to cover about half a month of imports, showing a decreasing trend compared to the previous month. Furthermore, following the Reserve Bank of Malawi’s foreign exchange auction held on March 18, 2024, the MWK has depreciated by 3 percent against the USD, moving from 1,700 MWK per USD to 1,751 MWK per USD. On a positive note, tobacco production is anticipated to increase this year by 15 percent compared to last year’s production, which is likely to improve foreign reserve levels. 
  • The 2023/24 agricultural season has been affected by the El Niño weather pattern, as predicted by the Malawi Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS) and FEWS NET’s seasonal forecast. The southern and central regions experienced dry spells ranging from 20 to 30 days between January and February, which led to mild to severe crop damage. The dry spells affected crops mainly in the southern region and parts of central region, as the crops were at either tasseling or cobbing stages, which are critical stages in which plants require increased moisture. The northern region received normal rainfall, and the crop stand looks good. Crop harvesting is expected in the final weeks of April to May 2024, and maize production is likely to be below average in the southern and central regions. Heavy rainfall in Nkhotakota and Karonga (central Malawi) between the end of February and the first week of March 2024 caused flooding. According to UNICEF flood response report, the floods affected around 34,000 households and damaged homes, household food stocks, and crops.
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Latest Analysis Latest Analysis
View All Malawi Analysis
Food Security
Food Security Outlook Rainfall deficits likely to reduce crop production and maintain food insecurity Malawi February - September 2024
Key Message Update Enhanced rainfall improves farm activities and income for poor households Malawi January 2024
Food Security Outlook Update Humanitarian assistance improves food security outcomes in southern Malawi Malawi December 2023
Agroclimatology
No reports available.
Markets & Trade
Price Bulletin Malawi Price Bulletin Malawi February 2024
Price Bulletin Malawi Price Bulletin Malawi January 2024
Price Bulletin Malawi Price Bulletin Malawi December 2023
Alerts / Special Reports
Alert Strong El Niño will drive high needs across Southern Africa through early 2025 Southern Africa November 8, 2023
Food Security
Food Security Outlook Rainfall deficits likely to reduce crop production and maintain food insecurity Malawi February - September 2024
Key Message Update Enhanced rainfall improves farm activities and income for poor households Malawi January 2024
Food Security Outlook Update Humanitarian assistance improves food security outcomes in southern Malawi Malawi December 2023
Agroclimatology
No reports available.
Markets & Trade
Price Bulletin Malawi Price Bulletin Malawi February 2024
Price Bulletin Malawi Price Bulletin Malawi January 2024
Price Bulletin Malawi Price Bulletin Malawi December 2023
Alerts / Special Reports
Alert Strong El Niño will drive high needs across Southern Africa through early 2025 Southern Africa November 8, 2023
Food Security Classification Data View all Malawi classification data
Malawi Acute Food Insecurity Classification (March 2024 - September 2024)

Forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (March 2024 - May 2024) and medium term (June 2024 - September 2024) periods.

Malawi Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile March 2024 (.zip) (ZIP) Malawi Acute Food Insecurity Classification March 2024 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Near Term Projection: March 2024 - May 2024 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: June 2024 - September 2024 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: March 2024 - May 2024 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: June 2024 - September 2024 (.kml) (KML)
Malawi Acute Food Insecurity Classification (February 2024 - September 2024)

Current (February 2024) food security outcomes and forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (February 2024 - May 2024) and medium term (June 2024 - September 2024) periods.

Malawi Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile February 2024 (.zip) (ZIP) Malawi Acute Food Insecurity Classification February 2024 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Current Situation: February 2024 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: February 2024 - May 2024 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: June 2024 - September 2024 (.png) (PNG) Current Situation: February 2024 (.kml) (KML) Near Term Projection: February 2024 - May 2024 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: June 2024 - September 2024 (.kml) (KML)
Malawi Acute Food Insecurity Classification (January 2024 - May 2024)

Forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (January 2024) and medium term (February 2024 - May 2024) periods.

Malawi Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile January 2024 (.zip) (ZIP) Malawi Acute Food Insecurity Classification January 2024 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Near Term Projection: January 2024 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: February 2024 - May 2024 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: January 2024 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: February 2024 - May 2024 (.kml) (KML)
Seasonal Calendar Seasonal Calendar
Description

The Seasonal Calendar shows the annual and cyclical patterns of key food and income sources in a country throughout the typical year.

Malawi Seasonal Calendar
Production & Trade Flow Maps
FEWS NET captures the market networks for a product in a given country or region, including their catchments and trade flow patterns.
Maize, Normal Year
Satellite-Derived Products Satellite-Derived Products
Description

USGS-provided data and imagery supports FEWS NET's monitoring efforts of weather and climate throughout the world.

View all Satellite-Derived Products
Livelihood Zone Resources Livelihood Zone Resources
Malawi Livelihood Baseline Profiles, March 2016 Malawi Rural Baseline, September 2005 Malawi Livelihood Zone Map, July 2015
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