Abstract
In recent years, a number of Sub-Saharan African countries have resumed farm input subsidies in order to stimulate farm level fertilizer application, enhance food security and alleviate poverty. In this study, spatial analysis is employed to examine whether fertilizer subsidies improve household food security in Malawi. Results suggest that household food security is heavily skewed with the south lagging behind the centre and the north. With regard to distribution of subsidised fertilizer, it is recommended that the areas with higher potential for maize production should be prioritised over those with less potential. It is also suggested that there is a need to ensure that the subsidy programme is guided by a properly formulated strategy that indicates an exit period.
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Notes
Rainfall and temperature statistics were supplied by the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services in Blantyre, Malawi while maize prices were sourced from the National Statics Office in Zomba, Malawi.
The first law of geography states that contiguous locations tend to be more similar to each other than distant locations.
High maize production in the central region can be attributed to favourable weather conditions (adequate rainfall) and fertile soils.
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Mkwara, B. Do Fertilizer Subsidies Improve Household Food Security? A Spatial Autocorrelation Analysis from Malawi. Glob Soc Welf 4, 21–29 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40609-016-0044-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40609-016-0044-6