World Vision Malawi and Nico Holdings plc have supported food-insecure households in Machinga District with maize to lessen their suffering during the lean period.
The intervention seeks to complement government’s response to food shortage following President Peter Mutharika’s declaration of a State of National Disaster in the country’s 28 districts and four cities.
Speaking on Tuesday during the distribution exercise in Traditional Authority (T/A) Nyumwanyumwa in the district, Nico Life Insurance Company Limited chief operating officer Chimwemwe Kanyenda said they were responding to government’s call for support.
“Following the declaration of State of National Disaster and the President’s appeal for support, the Nico Group felt it was necessary to support families that have been adversely affected by hunger,” he said.
Kanyenda, whose firm is a subsidiary of Nico Holdings plc, said under the initiative, Nico Group has committed K400 million towards the procurement and distribution of maize.
“The support will benefit about 6 500 households in T/As Chamba, Mgulumia, Nyumwanyumwa and Liwonde, with each household receiving a 50 kilogramme bag of maize,” he said.
World Vision Malawi director of operations Charles Chimombo described the support as timely and lifesaving, particularly for children who are most vulnerable during food crises.
He said: “This assistance has come at the time many people are suffering from food shortages. We are grateful to Nico Group for enabling us to reach vulnerable households.
“At World Vision, we believe that there is enough food for everyone, but the main challenge lies in distribution.”
Chimombo said the intervention aligns with World Vision’s global Enough Campaign, which focuses on ensuring children are healthy and well nourished.
A beneficiary Shyreen Ntungama, said thanked Nico Group and World Vision for the support, saying she did not harvest enough due to prolonged dry spells in the district
