DEDZA-(MaraviPost)-The Lawmaker for Dedza North Constituency Savel Kafwafwa has stressed the need for farmers in his area to embrace drought-resistant crops to beat the hunger situation that people are grappling with.
Kafwafwa observes that his constituents are still affected by hunger due to among others climate change hence the need to intensify the technique.
“People of my area have fro the past years been complaining of hunger, I therefore thought they should try growing cassava as it is drought resistant,” said Kafwafwa.
He was speaking when he donated cassava tubers worth MK1.5 million to farming households in the area of Traditional Authority Tambala in the district.
He added that currently, plans are underway to reach out to agricultural research stations to help farmers in the area in the multiplication of early maturity seeds.
“My vision is that I want every household to plant at least 120 plants of cassava, so we are looking for more means of making sure that we have more seeds. Am now working closely with research stations to start multiplying our cassava to benefit more farmers,” he disclosed.
Commenting on the development, Traditional Authority Tambala welcomed the gesture describing it timely as people are facing hunger.
Tambala said their role as chiefs will be setting bylaws that will ensure that the plant is protected once planted.
A report from the Dedza District Agriculture Office indicates that 15 percent of the total population in the district is affected by hunger this year.
