Malawi is a nation of hungry farmers. More than half the population relies on farming to survive. In this southeast African nation, which suffers from drought and crop-destroying floods, February is synonymous with hunger. It marks the peak of a three-month hunger gap that happens every year before the harvest begins in March. Many struggle with inadequate and depleted food supplies by this time of year. And they are helpless to do anything but watch their crops mature.

World Vision is There
World Vision has been working with struggling families since 1982, building greater food security. Child sponsorship funds pay for many programs that help farming families overcome the effects of drought.

Improved Irrigation
To mitigate the debilitating impact of little rainfall, World Vision teaches farmers small-scale irrigation techniques. Treadle pumps, for instance, are foot-operated irrigation tools that draw water from nearby wetlands. With a year-round supply of water, treadle pumps make it possible for farmers to harvest two—or even three—times per year.

Crop Diversification
World Vision actively encourages crop diversification. Staff members provide farmers with seeds and fertilizer to harvest a variety of crops, such as drought-resistant cassava, sweet potatoes, and soybeans. This gives the families greater food security and more diverse diets. They can also sell some of their produce to earn extra income.

Fish Farming Techniques
Fish farming is another World Vision project that helps to alleviate the annual food shortage. Staff members help dig ponds, and then stock them with fingerlings. They teach the farmers how to breed fish. This not only increases protein in families' diets, but also provides additional income with the sale of surplus fish.

Food Aid
When there is a food shortage, infants and young children suffer most. Malawi is among those countries with the highest infant and child mortality rates in the world. Each year, 96,000 children under five die—many of them from malnutrition and associated illnesses.

World Vision distributes emergency food supplies and supports supplementary feeding programs. Staff members also give special fortified foods to children recovering from malnutrition.

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