Relief programme faces80 000MT maize deficit
Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) says the lean season food relief programme faces a deficit of 80 000 metric tonnes (MT) of maize out of the needed 164 000MT.
Speaking at the launch of the exercise in Mangochi District on Monday, Dodma commissioner Charles Kalemba, said out of the $226 million (K266.68 billion) needed, $78 million (K92 billion) has been sourced for cash transfers, and maize was still in short supply.
Said Kalemba: “We expect government to provide 164 000MT [worth K60 billion] of maize so that we are able to reach out to all the councils.”
National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) acting chief executive officer David Loga said the strategic grain reserve has only 56 000MT in stock for the programme.
He said: “In terms of the physical stocks, we have 56 000 MT, but we are at an advanced stage to source an extra 20 000MT with about K13 billion from the government.
“We should be able [to secure] the 85 000MT when we have completed the procurement that we are undertaking.”
On how they can meet the 80 000MT deficit, Loga said the plan is to purchase more maize from the local market or to import.
He said: “There is a lot of maize in Malawi because we have run an open tender process for 20 000MT, but we have received bids for over 400 000MT, meaning, if we had extra resources, we would be able to secure 20 000MT or 100 000 MT, but we are limited on resources.”
Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale said they have already discussed with Treasury where they can get extra funding for the deficit.
“The World Bank is helping us with about $20 million to buy more grain. We are also working with two or three other partners who will help us get the rest of the grain needed,” he said.
Dodma spokesperson Chipiliro Khamula said the agency is providing 50kg bag of maize per household.
“In an ideal situation, we are supposed to provide pulses and cooking oil as well. Cash transfers ranging from K50 000 and above will be implemented from next month,” he said.
The Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee report has estimated that 4.4 million Malawians are likely to face hunger in the 2023/24 consumption period, and that humanitarian food assistance of 219 023 MT of maize estimated at K167.55 billion will be needed.
Out of the 4.4 million estimated hunger stricken population, 470 000 are from the four cities of Blantyre, Zomba, Lilongwe and Mzuzu while 3.9 million are from rural areas across the country.
