Flanders approves grant to support farmers in Malawi
A grant for the International Food Policy Research Institute will help develop agricultural advisory services in Malawi, where people are dependent on small farms
Better development
The project aims to improve the productivity of Malawi farmers by keeping them informed of sustainable agricultural techniques in a co-ordinated way, rather than the fragmented way information is disseminated now.
Flemish development co-operation with Malawi is centred entirely on agriculture, the main occupation of most of the country’s population. As most people are dependent on small farms, they are vulnerable to climate change – a situation helped by access to better information.
“This year the food shortage in Malawi will be even greater than usual because of the climate phenomenon El Niño,” said Flemish minister-president Geert Bourgeois, announcing the grant. “6.5 million people, about 40% of the population, may have to rely on food aid in the next year. Flanders is one of the main donors to Malawi and we take responsibility in these difficult times, not only through this project, but also by providing emergency relief.”
The project also received €300,000 from the German development agency GIZ and the American agency USAID.
Photo courtesy International Food Policy Research Institute
