Karonga starts harvesting rice,cassava
A visit to Kaporo, Traditional Authority (T/A) Kilupula on Wednesday revealed that some of the rain-fed crops such as rice and cassava are ready for harvesting. Rice is the staple food in most parts of Karonga according to agricultural officials. It is grown at a large scale, slightly above the national average figures, but much less than the potential yield for improved crop varieties which is over 500 kilogrammes per hectare. Rice in Karonga is grown in flood plains and in irrigation schemes. In the picture, a smiling woman peels cassava tubers she had just harvested.—BISHOP WITMOS, Malawi News Agency
Dowa calls for scrutiny of Macoha beneficiaries
Dowa District Council director of administration Steve Chima has asked Malawi Council for the Handicapped (Macoha) to scrutinise needy students it is supporting in the district.
Speaking at a quarterly report meeting on Monday, Chima said some persons with disabilities are working in companies and government departments and earning enough money to even support able dependents, hence the need to scrutinise them before supporting them.
According to a quarterly report for the months of October- December, 2015, Macoha is, among others, providing assistance to 12 needy persons with disabilities at Muwa School for the Deaf in Dedza, Mponela Community College, Salima, Chayamba and Lilongwe Girls secondary schools with school fees.
In the report, Dowa District Macoha office has provided wheel chairs, tricycles, raised shoes, neck collars, artificial legs, axilla crutches and others supportive items to persons with disabilities in the district.
In his remarks, Dowa District Macoha rehabilitation officer Billy Maupa concurred with Chima, saying his office is screening two of its students having learnt that their mothers are married and are well off.
He said his office has got community based rehabilitators (CBRs) who go to remote areas to assess the needs of those to be supported.
Maupa said the CBRs conduct sensitisation meetings with members of the public so that those affected can approach them and be linked to the district office.
He said Macoha provides educational, vocational rehabilitation and medical services to persons with disabilities in all the seven traditional authorities(T/As) in the district.—Mana
