Government to distribute cuttings,vines in Mchinji
In a bid to address food shortage and improve food security, the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development will distribute cassava cuttings and potato vines to 7 000 households in Mchinji District.
maize: Cassava
Mchinji district agriculture development officer Nevson Hlongo told a full council meeting in Mchinji on Monday that government has allocated K64 million for drought relief assistance crops.
“Government is encouraging people to diversify their crops when there is drought and not rely on maize as the main food crop, hence the programme,” he said.
Hlongo said government will distribute the cuttings through a non-governmental organisation called Churches Action in Relief and Development (Card).
The cassava cuttings and potato vines will be distributed to beneficiaries in Mkanda, Mlonyeni, Chioshya and Zulu extension planning areas among other areas.
Mchinji East member of Parliament (MP) Kayo Zimchetera (Malawi Congress Party) called for transparency when selecting beneficiaries to enable the programme to succeed.
