Traditional Authority Mwaulambia of Chitipa has appealed to stakeholders in nutrition to enhance provision of skills and knowledge on value addition and processing of food to communities in the district to combat malnutrition.
Speaking on Saturday during an agriculture fair organised by Chitipa District Agriculture Development Office, the chief said despite registering high crop production, malnutrition remains a challenge in communities.
He said farmers in the district prioritise selling most of their produce to traders in Karonga, Rumphi and Mzimba as well as across the border to Zambia and Tanzania.
“It is worrisome to note that our district continues to register high levels of stunting and wasting yet we harvest numerous types of food. The problem is that communities do not have the capacity to prepare nutritious foods,” he said.
Statistics indicate that stunting is at 33 percent with wasting at 13.5 percent. Stunting at national level is at 37 percent.
In his remarks, Chitipa district agriculture development officer Malumbo Nyirongo commended Afikepo Kulima, Save the Children, and World Relief for scaling up malnutrition interventions in the district.
He advised farmers to work in groups to have easy access to markets and extension services.
The theme for the fair was Socio-economic Transformation Through Self-Sustaining Farmer-based Organisations.
