National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) has adjusted to 120 000 metric tonnes (MT) its maize purchase target after surpassing the initial 82 000MT.
NFRA chief executive officer George Macheka, speaking in Lilongwe yesterday during the dispatch of relief maize for distribution by Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma), said the agency has procured 85 163MT, but still seeks to procure more for the grain reserves.
He said NFRA has spent at least K52 billion on the maize procurements, with K22 billion provided by government while the World Bank pumped in $20 million [about K35 billion].
Said Macheka: “We are still receiving funds and we believe that by the end of this year we should hit about 120 000MT which is above the target of 82 000MT we set at the beginning of the year.
“Dodma has provided additional K12 billion for maize procurement which will enable NFRA to start maize purchases anytime.”
On where NFRA plans to source the maize, he said the agency put up an advertisement and suppliers have already shown interest to supply the grain.
“We are just waiting to have the money cleared so that we can start buying. People are ready to supply maize,” said Macheka.
Of the maize procured, Dodma requested for 39 000MT for distribution up to December, which was dispatched yesterday.
NFRA will still have 46 000MT to cover the lean period stretching from January to April.
In his remarks, Dodma director of disaster preparedness and response, Reverend Moses Chimphepo said the department is making progress in the hunger response both in resource mobilisation and distribution of relief food and cash transfers.
He said besides the 39 000MT drawn from NFRA, the World Food Programme and other partners are also providing support towards the initiative.
Said Chimphepo: “As Dodma, we have so far secured $148 million [K257 billion] for the hunger response. The response is estimated to cost $197 million [K343 billion] to support all 5.7 million people affected by hunger.
“We are hopeful that by the end of December, there will be more resources to enable us to assist all people affected by hunger.”
The Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee estimated that 5.7 million people are food insecure and will need support during the lean season which starts from October to March.
The total food requirement was estimated to be 261 574 MT which translates to K278 billion, excluding associated costs such as transport, packaging, beneficiary registration and distribution
