339
again after pressure from donors (Harrigan 2003). Production went down and food
insecurity went up, contributing to new input subsidy programs being established
such as the Starter Pack Program and the Extended Targeted Input Program
(Sjaastad et al. 2007). The current Farm Input Support Program (FISP) started in
the 2005/2006 without direct donor support in the first year, though donors did
contribute later with 5% and 32% of the annual cost (Dorward and Chirwa 2014).
Various actors such as donors and NGOs have criticized FISP for not being economically viable, distorting the market, poor targeting, leakage, not being environmentally sustainable in relation to long-term soil productivity and crowding out
other necessary measures in relation to longer-term resilience building and adaptation to climate change (Chinsinga and Poulton 2014; Chinsinga and Chasukwa
2016; Haug and Wold 2017).
Whilst FISP is far from perfect, particularly regarding targeting and leakage, the
GoM has the proven ability to implement policy and actions, such as those that
resulted in maize production that exceeded the national requirements in the period
2005/2006, until floods and drought hit in 2015 and 2016 (Pauw et al. 2014; GoM
2016). In situations of floods and drought, input subsidies will fall short of fixing the
problem. In recent years, FISP has drastically declined in terms of farmers receiving
vouchers, whilst other programs have increased such as efforts towards promoting
climate-smart agriculture and direct social security programs such as school feeding
and FIRP. In 2016/2017, FIRP provided either in-kind food relief or direct cash
transfers to vulnerable households, reaching 6.7 million people (Duchoslav and
Kenamu 2018). The recent trend of declining support to small-scale farmers for
direct agricultural production and increased direct assistance with food or cash is
worrisome in relation to future climate threats in an agrarian economy such as
Malawi’s. Regarding services, climate change adaptation is also about institutional
support and innovation. The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water
Development has launched a new National Agricultural Extension and Advisory
Services Strategy that aims to strengthen this service (MAIWD 2018c). A new element of the strategy is to set minimum standards for service providers and approval
mechanisms for type and content of advice, as well as the registration of providers
and better coordination of the different actors involved in extension and advisory
services for farmers (MAIWD 2018c). The strategy is ambitious and will need both
funding and capable institutions in order to be properly implemented. The regulatory and coordinating role of the public sector at different levels will be strengthened if the strategy is put into effect.
Climate change adaptation related to the agro-food system is also highlighted in
the National Climate Change Investment Plan for 2013–2018 (NCCIP). This plan
highlights institutional capacity, environmental conservation and productivity
increase through adaptation investment and climate-smart agriculture (MECCM
2013). Whilst the funding and implementation of NCCIP have been challenging,
international initiatives such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF) have provided
support to a large program working on the upscaling of the use of modernized climate information and early warning systems (M-CLIMES) (GCF 2018). M-CLIMES
provides early warning information whilst strengthening preparedness and local
Policy and Action for Food and Climate Uncertainties in Malawi
again after pressure from donors (Harrigan 2003). Production went down and food
insecurity went up, contributing to new input subsidy programs being established
such as the Starter Pack Program and the Extended Targeted Input Program
(Sjaastad et al. 2007). The current Farm Input Support Program (FISP) started in
the 2005/2006 without direct donor support in the first year, though donors did
contribute later with 5% and 32% of the annual cost (Dorward and Chirwa 2014).
Various actors such as donors and NGOs have criticized FISP for not being economically viable, distorting the market, poor targeting, leakage, not being environmentally sustainable in relation to long-term soil productivity and crowding out
other necessary measures in relation to longer-term resilience building and adaptation to climate change (Chinsinga and Poulton 2014; Chinsinga and Chasukwa
2016; Haug and Wold 2017).
Whilst FISP is far from perfect, particularly regarding targeting and leakage, the
GoM has the proven ability to implement policy and actions, such as those that
resulted in maize production that exceeded the national requirements in the period
2005/2006, until floods and drought hit in 2015 and 2016 (Pauw et al. 2014; GoM
2016). In situations of floods and drought, input subsidies will fall short of fixing the
problem. In recent years, FISP has drastically declined in terms of farmers receiving
vouchers, whilst other programs have increased such as efforts towards promoting
climate-smart agriculture and direct social security programs such as school feeding
and FIRP. In 2016/2017, FIRP provided either in-kind food relief or direct cash
transfers to vulnerable households, reaching 6.7 million people (Duchoslav and
Kenamu 2018). The recent trend of declining support to small-scale farmers for
direct agricultural production and increased direct assistance with food or cash is
worrisome in relation to future climate threats in an agrarian economy such as
Malawi’s. Regarding services, climate change adaptation is also about institutional
support and innovation. The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water
Development has launched a new National Agricultural Extension and Advisory
Services Strategy that aims to strengthen this service (MAIWD 2018c). A new element of the strategy is to set minimum standards for service providers and approval
mechanisms for type and content of advice, as well as the registration of providers
and better coordination of the different actors involved in extension and advisory
services for farmers (MAIWD 2018c). The strategy is ambitious and will need both
funding and capable institutions in order to be properly implemented. The regulatory and coordinating role of the public sector at different levels will be strengthened if the strategy is put into effect.
Climate change adaptation related to the agro-food system is also highlighted in
the National Climate Change Investment Plan for 2013–2018 (NCCIP). This plan
highlights institutional capacity, environmental conservation and productivity
increase through adaptation investment and climate-smart agriculture (MECCM
2013). Whilst the funding and implementation of NCCIP have been challenging,
international initiatives such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF) have provided
support to a large program working on the upscaling of the use of modernized climate information and early warning systems (M-CLIMES) (GCF 2018). M-CLIMES
provides early warning information whilst strengthening preparedness and local
Policy and Action for Food and Climate Uncertainties in Malawi