343
and recognition of what is politically feasible and institutionally implementable in
efforts towards a more sustainable food system. Finding solutions to food and climate uncertainties lies in the interface between policy and action and requires
small-scale farmers’ creativity and ability to adjust to change, without transferring
the responsibility of climate adaptation to small-scale farmers with limited adaptation capacity. In order to build resilience to climate change, there is a need to move
beyond weather forecasting and early warning systems, to provide realistic livelihood opportunities for small-scale farmers to move out of poverty and towards
improved food security. The tendency to render food security as a problem that can
be dealt with through technical solutions alone, such as climate-smart agriculture,
must be complemented by thorough analyses of the economic, political and sociopolitical drivers of food system transformation. An integrated approach to food and
climate uncertainties will call for socioeconomic and technological innovations that
mutually strengthen each other whilst ensuring that the technology works for smallscale men and women farmers in accordance with the intentions set out in the sustainable development goals.
Acknowledgments The Norwegian-funded project on Capacity Building for Management of
Agriculture and Climate Change Program (CABMACC) and HLPE CFS for permission to include
Fig. 1 from HLPE (2017) in the chapter.
References
Arndt C, Schlosser AC, Strzepek K, Thurlow J (2014) Climate change and economic growth prospects for Malawi: an uncertainty approach. J Afr Econ 23(Supplement 2):25
Arndt C, Pauw K, Thurlow J (2014b) The economy wide impacts and risks of Malawi’s farm input
subsidy programme. Working paper 2014/099. UNU-WIDER, Helsinki
AU (African Union) (2018) Inaugural biennial review report of the African Union commission on
the implementation of the Malabo declaration on accelerated agricultural growth and transformation for shared prosperity and improved livelihoods. http://www.resakss.org/sites/default/
files/BR%20English%20Draft%20Print.pdf. Accessed Apr 2018
Benson T, Nyirenda Z, Nankhuni F, Maredia M (2018) The quality of agriculture and food security policy processes at national level in Malawi, results from the 2017/18 Malawi agriculture
and food security policy processes, Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy
Research Paper 109. East Lansing: Michigan State University.
Carr S (2014) The challenge of Africa’s Nitrogen drought: Some indications from the Malawian
experience. Policy note 19. International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington,
DC
Challinor AJ, Koehler AK, Ramirez-Villegas J, Whitfield S, Das B (2016) Current warming will
reduce yields unless maize breeding and seed systems adapt immediately. Nat Clim Chang
6:954–958
Chinsinga B, Chasukwa M (2016) Searching for a holy grail? The nexus between agriculture and
youth unemployment. In: Banik D, Chinsinga B (eds) Political transition and inclusive development in Malawi. Routledge, London, pp 112–131
Chinsinga B, Poulton C (2014) Beyond technocratic debates; the significance and transience
of political incentives in the Malawian farm input subsidy program (FISP). Dev Policy Rev
32:123–150
Policy and Action for Food and Climate Uncertainties in Malawi
and recognition of what is politically feasible and institutionally implementable in
efforts towards a more sustainable food system. Finding solutions to food and climate uncertainties lies in the interface between policy and action and requires
small-scale farmers’ creativity and ability to adjust to change, without transferring
the responsibility of climate adaptation to small-scale farmers with limited adaptation capacity. In order to build resilience to climate change, there is a need to move
beyond weather forecasting and early warning systems, to provide realistic livelihood opportunities for small-scale farmers to move out of poverty and towards
improved food security. The tendency to render food security as a problem that can
be dealt with through technical solutions alone, such as climate-smart agriculture,
must be complemented by thorough analyses of the economic, political and sociopolitical drivers of food system transformation. An integrated approach to food and
climate uncertainties will call for socioeconomic and technological innovations that
mutually strengthen each other whilst ensuring that the technology works for smallscale men and women farmers in accordance with the intentions set out in the sustainable development goals.
Acknowledgments The Norwegian-funded project on Capacity Building for Management of
Agriculture and Climate Change Program (CABMACC) and HLPE CFS for permission to include
Fig. 1 from HLPE (2017) in the chapter.
References
Arndt C, Schlosser AC, Strzepek K, Thurlow J (2014) Climate change and economic growth prospects for Malawi: an uncertainty approach. J Afr Econ 23(Supplement 2):25
Arndt C, Pauw K, Thurlow J (2014b) The economy wide impacts and risks of Malawi’s farm input
subsidy programme. Working paper 2014/099. UNU-WIDER, Helsinki
AU (African Union) (2018) Inaugural biennial review report of the African Union commission on
the implementation of the Malabo declaration on accelerated agricultural growth and transformation for shared prosperity and improved livelihoods. http://www.resakss.org/sites/default/
files/BR%20English%20Draft%20Print.pdf. Accessed Apr 2018
Benson T, Nyirenda Z, Nankhuni F, Maredia M (2018) The quality of agriculture and food security policy processes at national level in Malawi, results from the 2017/18 Malawi agriculture
and food security policy processes, Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy
Research Paper 109. East Lansing: Michigan State University.
Carr S (2014) The challenge of Africa’s Nitrogen drought: Some indications from the Malawian
experience. Policy note 19. International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington,
DC
Challinor AJ, Koehler AK, Ramirez-Villegas J, Whitfield S, Das B (2016) Current warming will
reduce yields unless maize breeding and seed systems adapt immediately. Nat Clim Chang
6:954–958
Chinsinga B, Chasukwa M (2016) Searching for a holy grail? The nexus between agriculture and
youth unemployment. In: Banik D, Chinsinga B (eds) Political transition and inclusive development in Malawi. Routledge, London, pp 112–131
Chinsinga B, Poulton C (2014) Beyond technocratic debates; the significance and transience
of political incentives in the Malawian farm input subsidy program (FISP). Dev Policy Rev
32:123–150
Policy and Action for Food and Climate Uncertainties in Malawi