Malawians living on mangoes as FAO awards Bingu on food security
Alinafe Mtawanga
28 November, 2008 02:00:00
Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources has uncovered a critical food shortage in most parts of Malawi. The development comes as Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has awarded Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika for what they say improving food security in the country.
A survey organized by the committee in all parts of the country, discovered that most Admarc depots have run short of maize with most people surviving on mangoes and aquatic plants.
"We have been feeding on mangoes since three days ago because my wife is at Admarc waiting for maize which has been scarce since last week," one of the villagers, Sailosi Manyenje told the committee.
In Machinga, the director for the Agriculture Cuthbert Gondwe told the committee that the district is experiencing food shortages this year compared to the same period last year.
He said currently 15% of the total farm families (26,436 out of 176,176) have no food from their own production as compared to 6% (10,706 out of 175,492 farm families) at the same time last year.
"It is true that people are failing to access maize because it is in short supply," he said.
It was also discovered that the ongoing Subsidy programme has affected the sale of maize in Admarc depots a development the villagers described as very unfortunate.
George Matipa of Mpeta village of Liwonde said that the lives of the villagers are at risk of being devoured by crocodiles as they fetch aquatic plants for survival.
The villagers told the committee that as a result they are processing maize seeds for food a development described as a threat to next year’s food security.
He questioned government's stand of maintaining that there is no hunger in the country.
The committee discovered the same situation in Balaka district where according to the District's Agriculture Development officer, Cosmas Luanda, a total of 20563 farm families out of 100216 farm families have no food, representing 21% while last year during the same period, 12,966 farm families out of 95,898 farm families had no food of their own representing 14%.
Parliamentary committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources is yet to produce an official report on the situation.
President Mutharika has been receiving a number of awards for eliminating hunger in Malawi a development described as unrealistic by commentators.
Food and agricultural organisation director Dr Jacques Diuof has meanwhile presented an Agricola Medal which is offered to a leader for his efforts in attaining food security.
Dr Diouf jetted into the country for the ceremony which took place yesterday.
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