Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Input Subsidies to Improve Smallholder Maize Productivity in Malawi: Toward an African Green Revolution

2009; Public Library of Science; Volume: 7; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1371/journal.pbio.1000023

1545-7885

Glenn Denning, Patrick Kabambe, Pedro A. Sánchez, Alia Malik, Rafael Flor, Rebbie Harawa, Phelire Nkhoma, Colleen Zamba, Clement Banda, Chrispin Magombo, Michael Keating, Justine Wangila, Jeffrey D. Sachs,

Agricultural Innovations and Practices

Emerging from the worst harvest in a decade, the Government of Malawi implemented one of the most ambitious and successful assaults on hunger in the history of the African continent. Through a national input subsidy program, coinciding with better rainfall conditions, maize production doubled in 2006 and almost tripled in 2007. From a 43% national food deficit in 2005, Malawi achieved a 53% surplus in 2007, some of which was exported to neighboring countries. An associated decline in the price of maize conveys important benefits to low-income urban and rural households that are net food consumers. Malawi's recent experience may provide important lessons for achieving food security through smallholders in Africa.