Since 1981 Malawi has implemented several economic and trade policy
reforms under the structural adjustment programmes following an economic crisis
between 1979 and 1980. Most of the policies targeted the agricultural sector including
deregulation of agricultural marketing activities, removal of fertilizer subsidies,
devaluation of currency, liberalisation of agricultural prices and liberalisation of special
crop production. However, despite the long experience of economic reforms there is no
evidence to suggest that household food security has improved during the period of
reforms.