A Comparative Study of the Impacts of Flooding on Food Security of Urban and Rural Households in Blantyre City and Chikwawa, Malawi

Abstract

The impacts of climate-related risks on rural–urban linkages and the food systems on which urban settlements depend are poorly understood. This study analysed (i) the climate trends for Blantyre City and rural Chikwawa district in Malawi, (ii) the sources of foods typically consumed in these locations, (iii) the implications of flooding following Tropical Cyclone Idai on urban and rural households’ interconnected agri-food systems and food security. Although floods were reported to cause both positive and negative effects on food production; food flows between rural and urban areas; and household food security, the negative effects (i.e. destruction of crops, homes and transport routes; higher food prices) outweighed the positives. In both rural and urban areas, poorer households were disproportionately affected resulting in reduced dietary diversity and food intake, shifts to consumption of cheaper foods, and requests for emergency food donations. Given the rapid rate of urbanisation, better understanding of food security amongst urban households is required. Following extreme events such as flooding, special attention needs to be directed to assessing and addressing food availability, access and consumption challenges in both urban and rural areas reliant on interconnected agricultural and food flows, and particularly in poor households.