By Linda Kwanjana
The Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Decentralization has announced that 2.6 million people in Malawi will not be able to meet their annual food requirements during the 2026/2027 lean period from October to March.
According to a statement signed by Hon. Joseph Mathyola Mwanamvekha, Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Decentralization, the figures come from the annual food security assessment carried out by the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee in May to June 2026.
The assessment determines the number of people who will not be able to meet their annual food requirement during the lean period.
The 2.6 million people represent 14 percent of the national projected population.
This is a 35 percent decrease from 4,009,537 people who were food insecure in 2025.
In rural areas, 2,531,266 people are affected which is a 36 percent decline compared to the 2024/25 lean season. In the urban areas of Blantyre, Zomba, Lilongwe and Mzuzu cities, the affected population has increased by 27 percent to 81,405 people.
The Ministry said the decrease in the number of food insecure people is due to favourable climatic conditions characterized by normal to above average rainfall during the 2025/26 growing season.
The Ministry of Agriculture has estimated maize production at 3,300,618 Metric Tonnes in the 2025/26 agriculture season compared to 2,859,948 Metric Tonnes in the 2024/25 agriculture season, representing an increase of about 15 percent.
Last year MVAC reported that below-average production and erratic rains pushed the number of food insecure people to over 4 million.
The total food requirement is estimated at 97,887 Metric Tonnes with a cash value of about MK124.3 billion. This is significantly lower than last year’s estimated requirement of about 200,000 Metric Tonnes valued at K387.20 billion.
The food insecure population will require food assistance for a period ranging from 3 months to 4 months during the lean season. Last year assistance was projected for 3 to 6 months.
The statement said government is already taking steps to assist the vulnerable households, however additional support is being requested from cooperating partners and the local private sector.
Mwanamveka says the efforts of all the stakeholders in addressing this situation are greatly appreciated by the Government.
