Climate change effects hit Malawi, 6 Million in need of food aid, way forward

By Blessings Pityt Kanache

Malawi is one of the countries in the southern part of Africa, hit hard by the effects of climate change. Each year, the country is either hit by floods or dry spells, and sometimes both. For the past three years, rainfall pattern has completely changed. Farmers plant maize the staple food, after 1st December, contrary to what used to happened in the past when people were planting maize and other crops such as maize, beans and pigeon peas  by 31st October. According to the government of Malawi, over 6 million people out of the 17 million population, require urgent food assistance in the 2016-2017 growing season. However, the recent assessment by the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee, the figures for those in need of food aid will keep increasing. But what is the future like? According to a survey journalists under the Blantyre Press Club, a grouping of journalists in the southern region of Malawi conducted in 19 districts of the 28 districts of the country, more people are willing to venture into irrigation taking advantage of the Lake Malawi the country has, and the Shire river which covers almost all the districts in the southern region. This complement government's initiative of national tree planting seasons as some of the important means of mitigating the impacts of climate change in Malawi.