Mid-term effects of a multilevel food security intervention on household food security, economic status, and use of sustainable agriculture practices in rural Malawi

Background: Malawi has experienced widespread food insecurity and associated health problems due to drought, depleted soil, reduced crop diversity, and poverty. We are conducting a controlled, quasi-experimental evaluation of a food security intervention implemented by CARE Malawi, which includes farmer field schools to teach sustainable agriculture techniques and a village based savings & loan (VSL) microfinance model to increase economic stability and opportunity.

Methods: We examined responses from program participants (N=600) and controls (N=300) at baseline and 18 month follow up using detailed household surveys that assessed household food security, economic situation, and farming and food production practices.

Results: At baseline, 71% of intervention households and 73% of controls had experienced food insecurity (≥ one month with insufficient food in the past year). At follow up, these rates decreased to 45% and 56% respectively (intervention effect: p < .03). The economic status (an index of income and assets) of households in the intervention condition increased relative to the control condition over time (intervention effect: p < .008). Use of sustainable agriculture practices (seed multiplication, box ridges, incorporating crop residue in soil, and growing indigenous vegetables) also increased or were maintained significantly more in the intervention group.

Conclusions: While both groups improved on food security over time, significantly more improvement occurred in the intervention group. These results were likely attributable to the observed positive intervention effects on use of sustainable farming practices and economic situation. Results of an ongoing 36-month follow up may reveal additional intervention effects requiring more growing seasons to fully manifest.