Nearly 10 percent of Malawi's 13 million people face hunger due of low yields of the main staple maize, prolonged dry spells and flooding, a report released Saturday said.

"The total number of people who will not be able to meet their annual food requirement during the 2013/14 consumption period is 1,461,940, representing 9.5 percent of national total population," the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee said.

The grouping of several government departments, the United Nations, embassies and humanitarian agencies said those affected will need assistance for a period of between two to five months.

The shortages will affect poor households in 21 districts of the southern African country.

Food shortage in this impoverished southern African country is often caused by drought and economic difficulties.

One in two Malawians lives on less than a dollar a day.

Malawi had a good food security record in recent years after late president Bingu wa Mutharika implemented a subsidy programme giving poor villagers access to fertilisers and inputs.