According to the latest Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) report, Malawi needs K19.14 billion to feed hungry citizens this year.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, said that 1,062,674 people, out of the total estimated rural population of 14,747,257, will not be able to meet their annual food requirement during the 2019/20 consumption period.

Presenting the 2019/20 national budget last month, Finance Minister, Joseph Mwanamvekha presented that government has allocated K10 billion for the purchase of maize by National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) to restock the Strategic Grain Reserves, which is in the process of procuring maize to increase their stocks to manage eventualities.

Meanwhile, in a country brief for Malawi, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has said that a raise in maize prices may result in an aggravation of food insecurity conditions. Maize prices rose steeply in July and firmed up in August 2019, having generally risen since mid-2018 with the national average maize price, at K217 per kg, being 80% higher year-on-year as of August.