MALAWI – The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) has launched a large-scale relief maize distribution to address the food insecurity crisis affecting 5.7 million Malawians during the lean period.
The initiative begins in Blantyre and Neno, with Chikwawa and Mwanza scheduled for relief distribution this Saturday. The exercise is expected to provide maize and cash transfers valued at K70,000 (US$62) per household to mitigate the dire food shortages.
Dodma spokesperson Chipiliro Khamula outlined the need for immediate assistance, especially in districts heavily affected by food shortages. The government is prioritizing districts requiring aid for up to six months, ensuring vulnerable populations receive support through maize distribution and, in select cases, rice.
However, pulses will not be included in the relief packages. Between July and August 2024, Dodma distributed over 30,000 bags of maize to beneficiaries across various districts, including Chikwawa, Lilongwe, and Nsanje.
According to Khamula, as the government scrambles to address the food crisis, the funding gap remains a significant hurdle. The relief effort requires K278 billion (US$239 million), but Dodma is currently K88 billion (US$76 million) short.
Nonetheless, international donors such as Japan and China are stepping in, with Japan donating 1,861 metric tonnes of rice valued at US$1.9 million, and China contributing 1,830 metric tonnes, of which 470 have already arrived in the country.
The World Bank has committed an additional US$30 million to the effort, following its earlier contributions of US$57.2 million and US$5 million under different crisis response programs.
The country’s food insecurity situation has been worsened by declining maize production, with this year’s yield falling from 3.5 million metric tonnes in 2022/23 to 2.7 million metric tonnes in 2023/24. This drop in production has strained the availability of maize, the staple food for Malawians, leaving millions vulnerable to hunger.
Challenges in sustaining long-term food security
Despite the relief efforts, concerns remain over the role of the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) in the food security response.
Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture chairperson Sameer Suleman expressed frustration over Admarc’s inability to adequately stock maize in its depots, making it difficult for food-insecure Malawians who can afford to buy maize to access it.
Suleman criticized the situation, suggesting that political influences might be hindering an effective response.
In response to these concerns, Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale reassured the public that Admarc has begun distributing maize to its depots, particularly in the severely affected Southern Region.
However, the outstanding maize requirement for the national food security program still stands at 166,867 metric tonnes, highlighting the urgency of continued and expanded relief efforts.
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