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There is continuing concern throughout most of Africa about the supply of food, notably because of its impact on the nutritional status of so many millions.2 In 1984, John Mellor and Bruce Johnston reported on trends in production and indicated that Africa had the slowest food growth rates in comparison with other country groupings throughout the world. They also acknowledged the extent of malnutrition and the complex system of interactions which influence food production and consumption.3 Earlier reviews of the food-deficit problems called attention to environmental constraints and the variety of experimental strategies for agricultural development tried in Africa. Michael Lofchie and Stephen Commins concluded that fundamental changes in governmental policies are needed in order to facilitate peasant production and participation, and they suggested a balance between the retention of traditional agricultural systems and the introduction of modern agricultural practices.4 Carl Eicher emphasised the need for intensive investigation into production constraints in order to provide the knowledge base for better strategies and programmes, and among the research priorities identified were those related to food consumption and nutrition.5 However, although more national macro-level surveys are obviously needed, they alone will not help us to understand the relationships between household-based food production and consumption systems, nor the rôle of the family in allocating labour and food.

Die stetig rückläufige Nahrungsmittelerzeugung in Afrika wird häufig in Zusammenhang gebracht mit der individuellen Haushaltssituation, mit der Verfügbarkeit ländlicher Arbeitskraft sowie mit der Abwesenheit des männlichen Haushaltsvorstands. Detailanalyse dieser Frage am Beispiel von zwei Dörfern in Malawi. Erfassung von Nahrungsmittelversorgung und -verbrauch sowie des Ernährungszustands der Bevölkerung. Ergebnis: da Männer im wesentlichen mit Marktproduktion (Tabak) befaßt sind, hängt der Ernährungszustand der Familie weitgehend davon ab, ob die Frauen ihre verfügbare Zeit überwiegend dem Nahrungsmittelanbau (positiv) oder auch der Produktion für den Markt (negativ) widmen. (DÜI-Hlb)