‘One in seven Malawians suffers from undernourishment’

Malawi Government has expressed concern that despite having adequate resources, many people are suffering from undernourishment.

Minister of Agriculture Professor Peter Mwanza said this at Mpherembe in Mzimba on Tuesday during the commemoration of World Food Day.

Said Mwanza: “Nearly one in seven people suffer from undernourishment, yet the world has the means to eliminate hunger while using natural resources sustainably.

“Inadequate food availability and poor distribution are some of the challenges that, if addressed, will allow member States to reach Millennium Development Goal 1 [which is] eradicating extreme poverty and hunger.”

Mwanza called for support and investment in cooperatives, producer organisations and other rural institutions.

“It is time to strengthen these organisations and facilitate their expansion while creating favourable business, legal, policy and social climate in which they can thrive,” he said.

The minister also called on people to use certified seeds to increase productivity.  He announced the re-launching of the seed week.

Acting Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) country representative George Okech, who delivered a message from FAO director general Jose Graziano da Silva, said small food producers around the world continue to face constraints that keep them from reaping the benefits of their labour and contributing to food security.

“Poor infrastructure and limited access to services and information, productive assets and markets, as well as poor representation in decision-making processes, mean that this potential is not realised,” he said.

During the commemoration, several farm equipment such as shovels, wheelbarrows, hoes, watering canes, rakes and fertilisers were given to some farmers’ clubs.

This year’s event was celebrated under the theme ‘Agricultural Cooperatives: Key to Feeding the
World.’