Tenson Zobo
Despite Malawi signing a free to Trade Area Agreement, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (comesa) member states have continued to impose trade barriers which are a major impediment to food security within the region.
The revelation were made during information sharing meeting on cross-cutting issues ranging from Economics, Environment, Politics, Cultural practices hence interface titled: Ethics, Peace and Justice Commission in Lilongwe.
Chairperson for Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) Rev Zacc Kawalala, revealed that less information on availability of food (maize) is being shared by the government contributing to more food shortages hence there is need to boost regional integration in the agricultural sector in Malawi.
Said Kawalala: “We hear statement like nobody will die of hunger but the truth of the matter if go down on the ground people have already started sleeping in the admarc depot, people are fighting for food, there is places where people could wet for three to two days suffering before food is being supplied. If we are being told there is food where is the food if is not in admarc depot?”
“Malawi has failed to deliberately put a programme that would promote mechanization. In fact, farmers were more mechanized in the 1970s than now when there was more usage of Oxen”
Further, argue that the sector, in general, has suffered from policy, legislation, politicians and the farmers themselves, and this has locked transformation of the sector; hence, the need for a paradigm shift to urgently restore the sector’s lost glory.
He also recommended the member states for considerable progress by increasing and identifying possible markets for legumes and participation in various sectors. However, he bemoaned government for providing a pack of lies on maize availability in admarc depot and asked government to be transparent and accountable on the matter.
Therefore, he urged citizen to take care of little food available and ask them to diversify meals into other substitute to maize such as rice, cassava and potatoes. Meanwhile, government needs to ensure that stakeholders should be sensitized to the importance of regional integration in the agriculture sector.
EAM General Secretory Rev Francis Mkandawire said that they (churches) remain committed to providing necessary legal and policy framework to further integration of equality and empowerment of the women and youths to accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals.
In addition, Mkandawire appeal to the general public in view of the maize production deficit, to venture into irrigation farming immediately. Farmers should keep enough maize for food needs through the consumption season by practicing irrigation farming.
Evangelical Association of Malawi is an umbrella mother body of 58 Evangelical Churches and 50 Christian Organization in the country. Its main mission is to unite, mobilize, and empower Churches and Christian Organization for effective and efficient social and spiritual transformation of the people of Malawi. Meanwhile, the Ethics Peace and Justice Commission (EPJC) is a special Commission of the EAM established by the General Assembly of 2007 to promote Biblical ethics, peace, and good governance in the country.
