African International Law Journal | 05 January 2010
Assessment of Food Security Programmes on Malawi's Smallholder Farmers' Livelihoods: Economic Stability Evaluation
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Abstract
Malawi has implemented various food security programmes to support its smallholder farmers, who often face challenges in maintaining stable livelihoods due to climate variability and market fluctuations. The research employed quantitative methods, including structured questionnaires administered online to a stratified random sample of smallholder farmers across different regions in Malawi. Data analysis focused on descriptive statistics and inferential statistical tests. A notable finding was that the majority (75%) of respondents reported increased income from participating in food security programmes, with significant improvements in their ability to meet household food needs compared to pre-programme levels. The findings suggest that while there is room for improvement, the implemented food security programmes have contributed positively to enhancing economic stability among Malawi's smallholder farmers. Based on these results, policymakers are encouraged to continue and expand support through targeted interventions that address specific needs identified by the surveyed farmers.