The Malawi Agricultural Policy Advancement and Transformation Agenda (Mwapata) Institute has announced the launch study on the impact of Covid-19 towards Malawi’s agro-food system.

In February this year, the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) also formed a special taskforce to monitor possible impacts of Covid-19 on the country’s economy. While the RBM taskforce will focus on the economy, Mwapata’s executive director Dr Sloans Chimatiro said that its study will give the actual picture on the ground for government good planning purposes. “Government needs evidence-based guidance to quickly design policies that effectively mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 that threaten to disrupt supply chains and livelihoods.” says part of a statement signed by Chimatiro.

The statement outlines that The first phase will involve compilation of COVID-19 facts in Malawi; Government policy responses (washing of hands, physical/social distancing, lockdowns and more). The second stage will be based on telephone interviews with a cross-section of major players along the agricultural value chains to capture their voices and gather evidence on how they are being affected by COVID19. The third phase of this study will assess the longer-term impacts of the pandemic and propose evidence-based response strategies.

As of 26th April, Malawi registered 34 coronavirus cases, three deaths and four recoveries.