National News

124 000 face food shortage in Dowa

 

Dowa District Council says 124 000 people are at risk of food shortage in the district.

Speaking during a district council committee meeting at the boma, Dowa District Council environmental development officer Yusuf Laki said government will take the lead in the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (Mvac) response programme for this year unlike last year when partners were involved to lead the process.

Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Joseph Mwanamvekha (2nd from R) distributes relief maize in this file photo

He said 49 400 bags of 50 kilogrammes each will be required for distribution, to meet the 2.5 metric tonnes requirement.

“The council welcomes partners to support government’s efforts in the provision and distribution of humanitarian food support to needy households in the district,” said Laki.

According to the district maize allocation for the 2018/19 Mvac Humanitarian Response Programme released by the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma), 24 700 households in the district have been affected by the food shortage.

Prolonged dry spells and fall armyworms are some of the major contributing factors to the district’s food shortage.

In the 2016/17 agricultural season, Circle for Integrated Community Development (Cicod) and other partners, was entrusted by government to distribute the free food to the needy in Dowa.

At least 3 306 400 people in Malawi (661 281 households) are earmarked to receive 138 500 metric tonnes of relief maize from November 2018 to March 2019.

Related Articles

Back to top button