Food security is vital for the further development of a state. The aim of this thesis
is to examine how and why Malawi managed to obtain national food security
despite being one of the poorest countries in the world. Malawi?s economy is
predominantly agricultural based and the majority of its population live in rural
areas and are employed in agriculture. Therefore, politicians who wish to gain
support are to target and improve agricultural policies. This is what the
government in Malawi has done and President Bingu wa Mutharika especially did
when he was elected President in 2004 by implementing the fertiliser subsidy
programme. Subsidising fertilisers for poor farmers consequently made the
agricultural production increase so much so that the country now is food secure
and is even exporting to neighbouring countries. Political tension exists in the
country between the President and his opponent, and in order for the President to
increase his support from the people and to maintain his position and power for
the upcoming election he needs to satisfy the Malawian people.