Malawi: The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA) distributed 800 bags of maize to households in Mchinji. The distribution exercise was done with the aim of supporting the food insecure households of the district.
The families who received support on Friday had been struggling since the just-ended lean season in Malawi. The support was extended under the 2024/2025 lean Season Food Insecurity Response Programme.
Reverend Moses Chimphepo, who serves as the DoDMA Director of Preparedness and Response talked about the importance of the support. The lean season food insecurity response programme started in the month of September 2024.
During the programme, the department managed to provide food support to all the people who were registered under the programme.
“The department has reached several affected households more than twice in the 21 districts that needed support. The stakeholders are also delighted to note that all 5.7 million registered under the programme have benefitted,” said Chimphepo.
He believes that the government is not the only one responsible for the provision of food. Citizens also need to take part in providing for their households by avoiding selling all the farm produce.
The officer believes that understanding food budgeting is very important. The farmers should save enough money for their personal use before bringing the produce to the market.
Senior group village head Chimwala has also appreciated the efforts of DoDMA who have helped in distributing the bags of maize. He believes that the programme has has helped a lot of families to overcome the food insecurity in their homes.
“We appreciate the government for this programme because a lot of families were affected in this area.” Said the village head.
He also said that in the absence of the food insecurity programme, they would have lost a lot of people due to hunger. The beneficiaries of the programme have also applauded the organization for extending their support.
Dorothy John, a resident of the Chimwala village applauded the department for providing food. He said the people are happy with the relief programme.
The food insecurity programme is being supported by the World Bank.