Shortage of Maize 2023The countries of southern Africa rely on maize as their staple food. Maize requires good amounts of rain and sunshine at the right times, as well as sufficient nutrients in the soil. For Malawi this means that fertilisers are necessary for there to be a good harvest. The war in Ukraine is affecting the supply of both fertiliser and the elements required to make fertiliser (See Daily Telegraph 17 January 2023) to much of the world. The cost of a bag of fertiliser in Malawi has risen from 35,000 Kwacha in 2022 to about 80,000 this year. It is far beyond the reach of the average person living in a village. For very many families this would be more money than they see in an entire year. For a good harvest traditional farming methods require at least 2 bags of fertiliser for a 2 acre field! The fear is that there will be another very great food shortage after the current growing season.
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Women from Tsumba village |
