POST SCRIPTS

Thank you for this report Tina, I found it very interesting, and it paints a nice picture as seen through one reporter's eyes.

If I might add this tidbit...

While it's true the people of Malawi are doing better in food production, and thats really great, you have to wonder if it's due more to a lack of draught than it is any new and improved farming practices.

Government previously has made a big mess of food production. Even now, food aid is running at about 29% of imports or at least it was in 2001 when I read the latest stats.

Corn is the staple food crop; about 2,500,000 tons, but that is only marginally adequate.

Other food crops, with estimated production figures, include cassava, 200,000 tons; potatoes, 385,000 tons; pulses, 289,000 tons; sorghum, 60,000 tons; plantains, 205,000 tons; bananas, 95,000 tons; and paddy rice, 93,000 tons. Still not enough to be really free from the threat of starvation.

Oddly tobacco is the big cash crop, but it is restricted by rigid government control.

Malawi exports more than 95% of the tobacco it produces. Malawi=big tobacco? Who woudda thunk? lol

Cereal is one of the main food staples( goes back to corn). Malawi has also exported food which makes you wonder why 29% of imports are food subsidies. The year to year production is by no means certain.

Underweight children run about 30% of the population and that is still really bad.

Tribal chieftains still run a primitive feudal farm system for food and that restricts farming on thousands of acres; another big problem for consistent food production. This has to change, sorry if its an old tradition, but it's a tradition that kills in bad times and it needs to go.

Ignorance, tribal feuds, and supersticions are major cultural problems in Africa that often stand in the way of progress, in particular western food and medical programs that could lead them to self sufficiency.

Malawi is like most of Africa, they still have no concept of sensible birth control and continously get themselves into trouble.

If I might add this tidbit...

Jack, that was hardly a tidbit! Thanks for fleshing out the post. The point I was making is better served with your background information.Of course I did not mean to imply that things are rosey for Africa. The good news was a trend toward mmore free market solutions and the resulting improved conditions.

I found this from a report out of the UK posted in May of 2007:

For distribution, the Government used private sector agricultural dealers as well as state-owned outlets, enabling customers to choose, for the first time, where they bought from. This important step forward was made possible by DFID funding. *** In 2005, subsidised seed and fertilizer were available only through state outlets, with only one type of each on offer. This was bad for business for dealers in the private sector and limiting for farmers. But in 2006, when over $25 million of subsidised sales were accessed through the private sector, farmers finally had a choice of type, brand and pack size of seed.

It's important to celebrate small victories.

Absolutely, we should recognize small victories and keep pushing them in the right direction. They have a long way to go, but every journey begins with the first step!