Mvac dares govt on food insecurity

Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (Mvac) wants government to come up with long-term solutions to food insecurity.

Mvac’s demand comes against the background of a scheduled food security update assessment for 2015 which it conducted in all districts except Likoma, from October 4 to 17 2015.

It was aimed at monitoring assumptions and key food security indicators in the annual assessment carried out in July 2015 to determine whether the food security situation has worsened or not.

According to the forecast Bulletin Number 11/15 Volume 2, which The Nation has seen, Mvac has also asked Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) to maintain supply of maize in its satellite markets to stabilise maize prices throughout the 2015/16 consumption period.

“Admarc should preposition stocks in all hard-to-reach areas such as Thekerani and Masambanjati extension planning areas [EPAs] in Thyolo, Makhanga in Nsanje, Mpinda in Phalombe, Kavukuku and Kameme EPAs in Chitipa, among others,” reads the report.

Mvac says much as the number of food insecure population has increased, it will continue to closely monitor the food security situation, especially during the peak of the lean season. n