Graig Farm - Who We Are > Malawi In Crisis

Malawi In Crisis

Bob and Carolyn Kennard, founders of Graig Farm, lived and worked in Malawi for a number of years, having known the country since the 1970's. They have a great attachment to the country and especially the people of this landlocked southern African state, which is the sixth poorest in the world.

Girl selling fruit in happier days in Malawi

Girl selling fruit in Malawi in happier days

The 2002 Crisis

It was with particular shock that they heard of Malawi's current plight in 2002. They contacted a Malawian friend to find out the current situation. His reply in April 2002 was :"Truly, Malawi is in total humiliation of hunger. The hunger situation is nationally extensive, both adults and children in the rural setting dying of malnutrition deaths here and there. Maize is being imported from Tanzania and South Africa, but not available to poor rural due to financial lacking."

A Malawi farm

Malawi Grain Store

 

 

 

 


Left: A typical family farmstead in Malawi
Right: A traditional Grain store in Nkhotakota

"In Nkhotakota (the region where the Kennards lived), hunger has badly hit the Mwansambo area situated about 60km south west of Nkhotakota Boma. It is believed that over 90% of farm families in this area do not have food."

Malawi Homestead in happier times

A Malawi Farmer's Homestead in the 1980's

This first-hand account was being backed-up by journalists reports from Malawi.

What has happened since?

In a reversal of government policy, support for small farmers increased and food production has risen rapidly, to the point where Malawi was exporting grain especially to Zimbabwe. However, concern has now been voiced that increased world food prices has hit Malawi, and the poor, particularly the urban poor, who have no subsistance food production to fall back on have been hit particularly badly, as the BBC recently reported (October 2008).

What Can We Do?

The Kennards have a great feeling of impotence in the face of such suffering amongst people with whom they have lived and worked. As Carolyn puts it "We hear of these African tragedies happening and somehow it seems impersonal. However, when you know the country and the people, it becomes all too real. We produce the very best quality food, but to think that there are people we have met who do not have enough of any type of food, then we have to do something."

Any customers of Graig Farm who wish to make donations to Malawi can contact a couple of organisations which work in the country  directly, using the following contact details :

Save the Children Fund:www.savethechildren.org.uk
or telephone :020 7703 5400

The Malawian Association for Christian Support (MACS) : 2 Ashurst Cottage, Plumpton, East Sussex, BN7 3AP Tel: 01273 890 155; www.malawimacs.org

 

Thank you