Now that the severity of the famine has past the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) is actively working in rehabilitation of the agricultural sector. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance continues to support work in both the Blantyre and the Livingstonia Synods of Malawi. Support of $75,000 has been sent to Livingstonia this week for their plan of agricultural rehabilitation for 21,000 families in the Northern part of the country, and targeted food assistance to 7,000 extremely vulnerable farming families to prevent them from eating their seed packages and migrating to do day labor.

The agricultural input packages will include maize seed, rice seed, bean seed, cassava cuttings and fertilizer. The food aid will also minimize the premature consumption of green maize thereby improving the final yield and production.

The Development Department of the CCAP Livingstonia is also seeking to improve household food security through disseminating messages in all of their work with villages. These include:

• Take seriously the message of the government and others concerning compost making, as fertilizers are expensive and unsustainable.
• Though this year’s harvest is small, keep the yield safe and reduce quantities cooked – do not waste food.
• Take advantage of residual moister to grow winter crops of maize and vegetables in order to supplement the meager yields of this year. (The department has distributed 80 metric tons of masika maize seed for winter cropping and 200 treadle pumps to farmers to support winter cultivation).
• In order to ensure the availability of adequate food supplies and dietary diversification, grow more than one crop including those that do not require fertilizer, and those that are drought tolerant.

See current response in Synod of Blantyre.