FAO chief commends Malawi for achieving food security

Despite sharply rising food and energy costs and the negative impact of climate change that have affected the global community, Malawi has been able to achieve food security for the past three years, The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)’s Director General, Jacques Diouf, said here Thursday.

Speaking to journalists on arrival at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in the capital Lilongwe, he said many countries in Africa and beyond are struggling to attain food security due to different global impacts which have negative affected their goals.

"Malawi is another country in Africa which has for the past few years made its success stories of making food security a reality by having surplus in three years in a row, while other countries within Africa are not able to do the same due to conflicts, wars, climate change, land management and poor leadership," he said.

He said the successes in Malawi have come due to a large part to the adoption of several strategies, including the agricultural input subsidy programme and the good leadership of President Bingu Wa Mutharika, which have substantially contributed towards transforming its economy from a state of food deficit to becoming a net exporter of maize.

Diouf therefore expressed appreciation to people of Malawi, the leadership and other players for achieving food security in the country within a few years.

Due to this, FAO will Thursday night honour Mutharika the Agricola Award for his excellent work towards achieving food security in Malawi.