economic growth will both increase the demand for labour and reduce the supply as more people
find off-farm employment, but at present ganyu is an essential part of the coping mechanisms of)
the poor.

 In the present situation in Malawi, a safety net program or combination of programs could
 have an important role either in offering alternatives to the ganyu system or in supporting those
 who, for whatever reason, are unable to offer their labour in the market. A targeted income
 transfer program could provide a stand alone safety net. Alternatively a combination of programs
 could address different sections of the population. Public works programs could target households
 with able-bodied adults, in combination with some form of vulnerable group feeding.

 In particular, the supplementary feeding program targeting malnourished children in
Nutrition Rehabilitation Units, currently run by WFP, is an important safety net for the neediest
families. This program is currently diP tn h' phaed nut in three years time. However, it is a
low resource (currently about 600 MT per annum) program which efficiently targets about 7%
of children under five from very poor households. At present the program provides food to
rehabilitate the child and to feed the family for five weeks, to allow the mother to stay with the
child while he or she is undergoing treatment. Serious consideration should be given to
continuing this program and possibly extending the period during which food is provided to the
household.

 It is unlikely that resources could be found to fund a safety net program which could
 ensure food security for large proportion of the Malawi population who are at risk. This means
 that it is particularly important to ensure that those programs which aim to provide support to
 particularly vulnerable sections of the population are well targeted.