UN envoy urges action on Malawi food security

LILONGWE, Dec 10 (Reuters) Malawi and other southern African nations must find sustainable solutions to ensure food security despite erratic rainfall, UN Special Envoy for Southern Africa Tim Morris said.

Malawi was one of the worst hit countries last season in southern Africa when a drought affected almost half of the country's 12 million population. The maize harvest rebounded this year.

''Malawi, like the rest of southern Africa, walks a tightrope every year waiting to see whether rainfall is plentiful enough to ensure a good harvest. Now is the time to look forward and put long term solutions in place,'' Morris told reporters yesterday.

He called for more investment in irrigation schemes to use the fresh water resources at the country's disposal.

''This region already faces major challenges because of HIV/Aids, if we could take food security out of the equation then real development objectives could start to be met,'' Morris said, during a visit to the country as part of a regional tour.

Malawi has been hard hit by AIDS while the United Nations' Development Programme estimated in its 2006 country report that 44 percent of children under the age of five in Malawi suffer chronic malnutrition.

Morris, on a second leg of a five-country trip and visits Zimbabwe today, said Malawi's subsidy programme had helped contribute to the country's remarkable harvest this season.

''The new systems in place have produced remarkable results and I am optimistic that Malawi will have a good harvest this programme and good rains,'' he said.

Malawi's latest maize harvest produced 2.6 million tonnes, more than the average national consumption of 2.1 million tonnes and double the previous year's harvest.

But despite the better harvest, the UN World Food Programme says 833,000 people will need assistance due to chronic poverty and the impact of HIV/Aids.

REUTERS PB RK0902