The New York Times article examines how Malawi is struggling to prepare for a severe El Niño event as funding shortfalls, rising fertilizer costs, and reduced international aid leave many farmers unable to afford drought-resistant seeds and other measures needed to cope with expected drought conditions. While the government and international partners have developed preparedness plans, only a fraction of the required funding has been secured, leaving vulnerable rural communities at heightened risk of food insecurity and economic hardship.
“The International Food Policy Research Institute projects that Malawi could see an extra 4.6 million people, or 20 percent of the population, become undernourished.”
Read the article (Subscription required)
Cited IFPRI analysis:
El Niño and rising fertilizer costs: How vulnerable is Malawi in 2027? (Chris Hillbruner, Karl Pauw, and Weston Anderson, September 11, 2026)