A Presidential Initiative on Poverty and Hunger Reduction on Friday met President Joyce Banda at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre ahead of its launch in Mangochi on Sunday.
Banda told the committee she set up the initiative to raise awareness on unacceptable high levels of poverty prevailing in the country. She said it is part of her vision to eradicate poverty in Malawi.
Members of the committee who met Banda were chairperson of the initiative Professor Ben Kaluwa of Chancellor College, agriculture extension specialist Dr Grace Malindi, businessperson Jimmy Koreia Mpatsa, Oxfam country director John Makina, Paramount Chief Kyungu, Senior Chief Malemia, Traditional Authority (T/A) Mabulabo, a Mrs Kholomana and a Mr Lipita. Other three members were absent.
The President said she expects the initiative to promote cash crops such as rice, groundnuts, sunflower, pigeon peas, among others, and livestock production.
She said small and medium-scale enterprises are expected to form cooperatives, which the presidential initiative is going to support.
During the meeting, Banda announced that the presidential initiative will be launched on Sunday in Mangochi in T/A Katuli’s area.
Kaluwa, an economist, said poverty and hunger are related.
He said that is why people must be taught ‘to fish’ so that they do not rely on government to feed them.
