MAM donates maize, seeds to 1 000 families

Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) has donated maize and fast-maturing maize seed worth K18 million to 1 000 households affected by floods in Salima District.

Speaking on Monday after the donation, MAM Salima Chapter chairperson Sheikh Ibrahim Waiti said they initially planned to reach out to many households, but ended up supporting 1 000 families.

“We have donated the maize seeds for people to replant during winter to improve food security,” he said.

Peacock Seeds production and factory manager Mathews Sikwese, whose firm partnered MAM, urged beneficiaries to use the maize seed for its intended purpose.

“This type of maize seed is fast-maturing and drought-resistant and suitable for irrigation farming,” he said.

Sikwese said they will continue to reach out to other places in the district with maize seeds as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility.

“We donated the maize seed because our customers are a priority and they deserve our support as their survival is our survival,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Zainabu Mustafa, commended MAM and Peacock Seeds Company for the gesture.

“The floods swept away my crops and it was difficult to get maize seed to replant during the winter,” she said.

Each beneficiary received a 50 kilogramme bag of maize as part of a recovery package.

According to Salima District Council, rainstorms early this year affected about 1 167 households.