By Burnett Munthali
Vice President Dr. Jane Ansah has encouraged communities to embrace irrigation farming as a sustainable solution to improve food security in Malawi.
She made the call on Thursday during the launch of the 2025/26 National Lean Season Food Insecurity Response at Kalumbu and M’bwatalika Headquarters ground in Lilongwe district.
During the launch, Dr. Ansah noted that 106,045 households across Lilongwe district are expected to receive maize support during the lean period.
The Vice President said the government is fully aware that the country is experiencing food insecurity due to the multiple disasters that affected Malawi during the 2024/25 farming season.
She explained that the Lean Season Response Programme (LSRP) was developed to support vulnerable households with maize during the peak hunger period of the 2025/26 disaster season.
Dr. Ansah thanked development partners and companies for their continued support in ensuring the successful implementation of the programme.
Senior Chief Kalumbu commended the government for the initiative and appealed for an increase in the number of beneficiaries, emphasizing that many people are in dire need of relief maize.
A representative of the beneficiaries, Ezra Masalaza, who is physically challenged, expressed gratitude to the government for including people with disabilities in the programme.
The Vice President’s call for irrigation farming highlights the government’s push for long-term solutions to food insecurity while addressing immediate needs through maize distribution.
