WFP, NFRA move to promote food security

World Food Programme (WFP) and National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance the agency’s capacity to manage grain stocks and promote food security.

The MoU has three key areas of collaboration, namely strengthening NFRA human resource capacity, enhancing business processes and grain management.

Speaking during the ceremony, WFP country director Paul Turnbull said there is urgent need to empower NFRA to  respond to humanitarian and market needs as well as ensure that strategies and actions directly benefit those who need them most.

He said the MoU will revolutionise NFRA’s business processes by improving infrastructure management and ensuring that it embraces digitalisation and that its operations are more efficient and impactful.

Said Turnbull: “Leveraging WFP’s technical expertise and knowledge will be instrumental in supporting NFRA in areas of urgent attention.

“This collaboration paves the way for sustainable food systems and helps equip the Government of Malawi to respond to major shocks and food needs in the coming years.”

He further stated that enhancing grain management entails promoting transparency and accountability in grain management.

“This will involve implementing systems that ensure every grain is accounted for to promote trust and integrity in operations.

“NFRA will play a pivotal role in ensuring maize price stability, food availability and functioning as an off-taker for smallholder farmers. This will create a direct and positive impact on the lives of countless Malawians,” said Turnbull.

On his part, NFRA board chairperson Dennis Kalekeni said the MoU was long overdue as the two institutions have for a long time been cooperating on a number of areas of mutual interest aimed at enhancing food security in the country by strengthening the operations of the strategic grain reserve (SGR).

Both WFP and NFRA strive to set Malawi on a sustainable path to food and nutrition security by 2030 and the goal will be achieved through concerted efforts.