MANGOCHI-(MaraviPost)-Humanitarian assistance in Mangochi has reignited discussions on long-term food security, as communities in Makawa under Senior Chief Mponda continue to grapple with hunger.

This follows the latest intervention by the Faizan Global Relief Foundation (FGRF), which reached 1,500 people with maize flour.

During the handover ceremony, Agriculture Minister Roza Fatch Mbilizi said the donation reflects the urgent need for stronger partnerships to address the country’s worsening food crisis.

She stressed that Malawi cannot rely on relief distribution alone and must invest in systems that help communities withstand recurring droughts.

Mbilizi noted that with over four million Malawians facing hunger, government efforts through the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) remain critical.

However, she called on development partners to complement these efforts with programmes that also empower farmers with modern farming tools and technologies.

The minister emphasised that repeated food shortages highlight deeper structural challenges in the agricultural sector.

She urged organisations working in disaster response to integrate resilience building initiatives such as irrigation support, seed distribution and climate smart agriculture.

FGRF spokesperson Ibrahim Omar Mataya said the foundation understands these long-term needs and is exploring ways to expand its support beyond emergency food distribution.

The current maize flour donation, worth K20 million, is expected to be followed by six months of additional assistance.

Mataya revealed that FGRF is considering incorporating soy flour and cooking oil to improve nutrition, especially among children and elderly people who are most affected during periods of scarcity.

Community members, while appreciative, echoed concerns about their inability to produce enough food due to last year’s crop failure. Many farms yielded almost nothing after prolonged dry spells destroyed maize fields before harvesting time.

For elderly beneficiaries like 65-year-old Jafali Naphwata, the relief brings temporary comfort, but his fears linger as the next farming season approaches without adequate seed or fertilizer.

He appealed to government and well wishers to support farmers with inputs to avoid another cycle of hunger.

Traditional leaders in the area also expressed the need for coordinated interventions that go beyond short-term handouts.

They believe empowering communities with farming resources would reduce dependency on emergency aid over time.

The donation has therefore sparked broader conversations about how Mangochi and the country at large can shift from crisis-driven responses to sustainable food systems that can withstand climate shocks.

The Maravi Post