In some countries, a food crisis is no longer an extraordinary event; it is part of an increasingly deep-rooted pattern of food insecurity. This often arises from increasing population density, decreasing farm sizes, declining soil fertility and the high cost of agricultural inputs, particularly fertiliser. Against this background, policy options are very limited.

In Malawi, there is a different approach to overcoming chronic food insecurity. For the past six years, government and donors have implemented a free inputs programme for smallholder farmers. The Starter Pack programme distributes tiny packs of maize and legume seed and fertiliser, enough to cultivate an area of 0.1 hectares. Research funded by DFID Malawi looks at how the programme evolved, and the expectations it raises for agricultural growth, poverty reduction, social protection and food security.

Different policy stakeholders have different expectations of free inputs programmes. Agricultural economists expect increases in agricultural growth and medium-term poverty reduction. Social protection specialists expect a safety net for the most vulnerable people. Politicians hope for the elimination of food insecurity. On its own, Starter Pack does not achieve any of these things, but it can be a key component in all of them.

The research shows:

• Access to fertiliser is the most common constraint to adequate maize production in Malawi. A Starter Pack raises average household production by 125 – 150 kg of maize.
• Starter Packs increase the supply of maize to the market, at the same time as reducing demand (as people grow more for themselves). This keeps maize prices low during the ‘hungry season’. Poor households are able to supplement their own production by buying maize at affordable prices.
• The increased amount of maize in circulation enables the continuation of traditional support systems in rural communities, such as when rich farmers provide the poor with work-for-food opportunities during the hungry season. These support systems are undermined by chronic food insecurity.

During some phases of implementation, the Starter Pack programme distributed packs to all smallholder farmers; at other times, the programme distributed smaller numbers of packs and attempted to target them to the poorest and most vulnerable farmers. When the programme was scaled down, the impact was reduced greatly. Targeting did not work because there was little difference between people selected to benefit and those not selected. Communities resisted targeting and it was difficult to implement.

The programme did not meet all the expectations it originally raised. In particular, it did not stimulate nationwide agricultural growth. However, it did overcome the input constraints that were facing smallholder farmers.

The research makes the following recommendations:

• Although not financially self-sustaining, the programme should be a spending priority for Malawi, complemented by a rural development programme.
• The potential of Starter Pack to promote long-term sustainable agriculture needs to be developed further. The programme could be used to help restore the degraded maize germplasm gene pool. It could also promote crop diversification as a livelihood strategy.

Starter Pack provides a solid foundation for poverty reduction and growth. Compared with the alternatives, free inputs are an inexpensive option. After alleviating chronic food insecurity in Malawi, free inputs programmes should be considered in other developing countries.

Source(s):
‘Food Security, Social Protection, Growth and Poverty Reduction Synergies: the Starter Pack Programme in Malawi’, Natural Resource perspectives No. 95, Overseas Development Institute, September 2004 Full document.

Funded by: Natural Resource perspectives funded by UK Department For International Development (DFID).  Research funded by DFID-Malawi.

id21 Research Highlight: 7 April 2005

Further Information:
Sarah Levy
Calibre Consultants
33 Princes Street
Reading RG1 4EG
UK

Tel: +44 (0) 118 951 0141
Fax: +44 (0) 118 951 0141
Contact the contributor: slevy.calibre@btopenworld.com

Statistical Services Centre, University of Reading, UK

Overseas Development Institute, UK

Other related links:
'Changing agricultural support services to improve food security'

'Food trade and food policy in sub-Saharan Africa: old myths and new challenges'

'Is Asia losing the fight against hunger?'

Agriwatch - information on agricultural input and outputs

Seed and Planting Material Development, FAO

DFID Malawi

ODI Natural Resources Perspectives series