Malawi 'achieved self-sufficiency in 2009'
19/11/2009
Malawi has surprised the international community this year by managing to grow enough maize to feed its citizens and having some left over to export, it has emerged.
It has been dubbed the Malawi miracle, after the African country was blighted with crippling droughts in previous years, informs the BBC.
This progress has been attributed in part to a programme that has been working to provide heavily discounted equipment, such as seeds and fertiliser, to poor farmers.
However, the news provider adds, the country has avoided droughts this year and there are fears that introducing factory-made fertilisers to its existing soil may cause it to degrade.
In September, Malawi's president Bingu wa Mutharika stressed his plans to combat poverty in Malawi during his second term as president.
He told AllAfrica.com that the country has a wealth of natural resources which could help to generate substantial income and create more jobs.
Written by Claire Devlin 
