Chakwera orders a comprehensive assessment report on dry spells

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By Kondanani Chilimunthaka

Malawi leader has told the nation that he has ordered the Minister of Agriculture to provide a comprehensive assessment report that will establish the extent and impact for the dry spells.

Answering a question on Wednesday 21st February 2024, from Thyolo Thava parliamentarian who wanted to know ‘What measures is the government putting in place to cover the expected maize shortfall to avert a prolonged hunger crisis’, Chakwera said currently the government is conducting scientific assessment to establissh the impact of the dry spells.

The President told the House that he is fully aware of the effects of the dry spells that the country is experiencing due to the El-nino phenomenon and the expected impact on the country’s production, adding that the August House is also aware that the country is going through a harsh agricultural season with erratic rains in some parts of the country.

“Sadly, Madam Speaker, it is clear that some households will harvest almost nothing during this cropping season, and their loss of economic livelihood is a painful reality that we need to take seriously. Given the severity of the situation for such households, I have ordered the Minister of Agriculture to give me a comprehensive assessment to establish the required humanitarian assistance and recovery support we need to mobilize to rehabilitate the livelihoods of such households.

We are currently conducting scientific assessment to establish the extent and impact for the dry spells. The results of this assessment will then form the key inventions that we need to embark on” Said the President.

However, President Lazarus Chakwera said for it to happen, it will need the support of all Malawians of good will and development partners to adequately respond to the need, saying soon the government will engage smallholder farmers in irrigation farming.

Meanwhile, the government has put 57,065 hectares under smallholder farmers to be under supplementary irrigation in 2023/24 rain-fed cropping season to help boost production, and the 881 hectares under Malawi Prison Service while 800 hectares Malawi National Service under Malawi Defence Force are involved in irrigation through Greenbelt Authority to cover the deficit.