The document discusses efforts to address hunger and malnutrition in Malawi through the promotion of early maturing potato and vitamin A-rich sweet potato varieties. The Malawi Growth and Development Strategy and Agriculture Sector Wide Approach Programme target agriculture and food security. A nutrition policy was also developed to address high stunting and underweight rates in children under five. The International Potato Center, with funding from Irish Aid, is implementing potato and sweet potato projects to increase food security, diversification and nutrition by promoting varieties that contain important nutrients. The projects have strengthened capacity, improved varieties, promoted seed production technologies, and empowered farmers to increase incomes and nutrition.

1. Rooting out hunger in
Malawi with early maturing
potato and Vitamin A rich Demo P.(CIP), Abidin P.E. (CIP),
Chipungu F.(DARS),
Mwenye O.(DARS),
sweetpotato Botha B.(IA), Lalor L.(IA),
and Low W.J. (CIP)
Contacts: p.demo@cgiar.org ;
p.abidin@cgiar.org
The Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) targets agriculture as the driver of
economic growth and recognize food security as a pre-requisite. The Agriculture Sector
Wide Approach programme (ASWAp), a sector strategy to implement the MGDS sets
important milestones to increase agricultural productivity, diversification and nutrition. The
National Nutrition Policy and Strategic Plan was also developed and outlines key nutrition
priorities in Malawi. This responds to high
malnutrition levels, with 46% under-five children
INTERNACIONAL
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stunted and 21% underweight (MICS 2006).
D E L A PA PA
In line with the above policy context, the
International Potato Center (CIP), with funding
from Irish Aid is implementing potato and sweet
C I P
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potato projects which are aimed at increasing
farmers’ food security, diversification and nutrition.
The orange fleshed sweet potatoes promoted
contain Beta carotene (pro-Vitamin A),
carbohydrate (energy), and protein from its leaves.
Potatoes are rich in Vitamin C, carbohydrate
(energy) and potassium amongst other nutrients.
Children feeding on potato in Malawi
Government of Malawi
KEY RESULTS:
Government of Ireland
Rialtas na hÉireann
Strengthened national human and
infrastructure capacity A potato dish
Improved potato varieties selected for family
nutrition in
Seed production technologies promoted Malawi
Farmers empowered for on-farm seed
production
Farmers incomes and nutrition increased
KEY STAKEHOLDERS:
International Potato Center (CIP)
Department of Agricultural Research
Services (DARS)
Department of Agricultural Extension
Services (DAES)
Concern Universal (NGO)
Universal Industries Ltd
IRISH AID
USAID
Different forms of
sweetpotato
utilisation in Malawi